Flexible display apparatus and display method thereof

ABSTRACT

A flexible display apparatus includes a flexible display, a sensor which senses bending of the flexible display, and a controller which determines a screen activation region and a screen inactivation region from among a plurality of display regions of the flexible display based on the sensed bending, and displays a predetermined screen on the screen activation region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/953,136, filed Jul. 29, 2013, and is related toand claims the priority benefit of Korean Patent Application No.10-2012-0083285, filed on Jul. 30, 2012 in the Korean IntellectualProperty Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein byreference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Methods and apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments of thepresent general inventive concept relate to a flexible display apparatusand a display method thereof, and more particularly, to a flexibledisplay apparatus which can be bent, and a display method thereof.

2. Description of the Related Art

With the development of electronic technologies, various kinds ofdisplay apparatuses have been developed. In particular, displayapparatuses such as television (TVs), personal computers (PCs), laptops,tablet PCs, mobile phones, and MP3 players have come into wide use tosuch an extent that they are used in most households.

To meet users' needs for new functions, an effort to develop the displayapparatus in a new form has been made. A so-called next generationdisplay apparatus is a result of such an effort.

The flexible display apparatus is an example of the next-generationdisplay apparatus. The flexible display apparatus refers to a displayapparatus that can be deformed or have its shape changed like paper. Theflexible display apparatus can be deformed by a force applied by a userand thus may be used for various purposes. For instance, the flexibledisplay apparatus may be used for mobile apparatuses such as mobilephones, tablet PCs, electronic albums, personal digital assistants(PDAs), and MP3 players. The flexible display apparatus has flexibilityunlike existing display apparatuses. Accordingly, there is a demand fora method of using such a characteristic to control the variousoperations of the display apparatuses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One or more exemplary embodiments may overcome the above disadvantagesand other disadvantages not described above. However, it is understoodthat one or more exemplary embodiment are not required to overcome thedisadvantages described above, and may not overcome any of the problemsdescribed above.

Additional features and utilities of the present general inventiveconcept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and,in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned bypractice of the general inventive concept.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide aflexible display apparatus which can activate or inactivate at least apart of a display region according to bending, and a display methodthereof.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide aflexible display apparatus including a flexible display, a sensor tosense a bending of the flexible display, and a controller to determine ascreen activation region and a screen inactivation region from among aplurality of display regions of the flexible display based on the sensedbending, and display a predetermined screen on the screen activationregion.

The controller may determine the screen activation region as one of theplurality of display regions that is formed by a bending line formed bythe bending, and at least two of four sides of the flexible display, andmay determine the remaining display regions as the screen inactivationregion.

The controller may determine the screen activation region as one of theplurality of display regions that is formed by two points at which thebending line meets first and second sides of the flexible display whichare adjacent to each other, and a vertex at which the first and secondadjacent sides meet each other, and may determine the remaining displayregions as the screen inactivation region.

The at least two sides of the flexible display may be opposite eachother, and the controller may determine the screen activation region asone of the plurality of display regions that is formed by two points atwhich the bending line meets the two opposite sides of the flexibledisplay, and two vertexes at which the two opposite sides meet a thirdside which connects the two opposite sides, and may determine theremaining display regions as the screen inactivation region.

If the bending is performed in a state in which an original screen isdisplayed on the entire flexible display, the controller may determine ascreen activation region based on the bending, reconfigure the originalscreen according to a size and a shape of the screen activation region,and may display on the determined screen activation region one of thereconfigured screen and part of the original screen that corresponds tothe size and shape of the determined screen activation region.

The flexible display apparatus may further include a storage device tostore information on a plurality of functions and information on apriority given to the plurality of functions, and, if the screenactivation region is determined, the controller may determine a numberof executable functions with reference to a size and a shape of thescreen activation region, may execute the determined number of functionsfrom among the plurality of functions with reference to the priority,and may generate the screen including an object corresponding to each ofthe executed functions.

The priority may be determined according to a location of the screenactivation region.

The flexible display apparatus may further include a storage device tostore information on at least one function that matches each displayregion of the flexible display, and, if the screen activation region isdetermined, the controller may execute a function that matches alocation of the screen activation region, and may generate the screencorresponding to the function.

The storage device may further store information on a priority given toeach function, and, if a display region matching a plurality offunctions is included in the screen activation region, the controllermay determine a number of executable functions according to a size and ashape of the screen activation region, may execute the determined numberof functions from among the plurality of functions in sequence accordingto the priority, and may generate the screen including an objectcorresponding to each of the executed functions.

In a state in which a first application is executed and an executionscreen of the application is displayed on the entire flexible display,if a notice message regarding a second application is received, thecontroller may display the notice message on one display region of theexecution screen, and, if the display region on which the notice messageis displayed is bent, the controller may display the execution screen ofthe first application on a display region other than the bent displayregion, and may display a whole text of the notice message on the bentdisplay region.

If flap manipulation to unfold the bent display region is sensed in thestate in which the whole text of the notice message is displayed on thebent display region, the controller may execute the second applicationand may display an execution screen of the second application on theentire flexible display.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide adisplay method of a flexible display apparatus, the display methodincluding sensing a bending of a flexible display provided in theflexible display apparatus, determining a screen activation region and ascreen inactivation region from among a plurality of display regions ofthe flexible display based on the sensed bending, and displaying apredetermined screen on the screen activation region.

The determining the screen activation region and the screen inactivationregion may include determining as the screen activation region a displayregion that is formed by a bending line formed by the bending, and atleast two of four sides of the flexible display, and determining theremaining display regions as the screen inactivation region.

The determining the screen activation region and the screen inactivationregion may include determining as the screen activation region a displayregion that is formed by two points at which the bending line meetsfirst and second sides of the flexible display which are adjacent toeach other, and a vertex at which the first and second adjacent sidesmeet each other, and determining the remaining display regions as thescreen inactivation region.

The at least two sides may be opposite each other, and the determiningthe screen activation region and the screen inactivation region mayinclude determining as the screen activation region a display regionthat is formed by two points at which the bending line meets the twoopposite sides of the flexible display, and two vertexes at which thetwo opposite sides meet a third side which connects the two oppositesides, and determining the remaining display regions as the screeninactivation region.

The displaying the screen may include, if the bending is performed in astate in which an original screen is displayed on the entire flexibledisplay, reconfiguring the original screen according to a size and ashape of the determined screen activation region and displaying on thedetermined screen activation region one of the reconfigured screen and apart of the original screen that corresponds to the size and the shapeof the determined screen activation region.

The displaying the screen may include, if the screen activation regionis determined, determining a number of executable functions withreference to a size and a shape of the screen activation region,executing the determined number of functions from among a plurality offunctions executable in the flexible display apparatus with reference toa priority given to the plurality of functions, and generating thescreen including an object corresponding to each of the executedfunctions, and displaying the screen on the screen activation region.

The priority may be determined according to a location of the screenactivation region.

The displaying the screen may include, if the screen activation regionis determined, identifying a function that matches a location of thescreen activation region based on information on at least one functionthat matches each display region of the flexible display and is stored,and executing the identified function and generating the screencorresponding to the function, and displaying the screen on the screenactivation region.

The displaying the screen may include, if a display region matching aplurality of functions is included in the screen activation region,determining a number of executable functions according to a size and ashape of the screen activation region, executing the determined numberof functions from among the plurality of functions in sequence accordingto a priority given to the plurality of functions, and generating thescreen including an object corresponding to each of the executedfunctions, and displaying the screen on the screen activation region.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium to containcomputer-readable codes to execute the display method of a flexibledisplay apparatus.

The controller of the flexible display apparatus may determine abrightness of the screen activation region based on the bending.

Exemplary embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide aflexible display apparatus, including a flexible display, and acontroller to determine at least one of a shape, size, location, andcontent of a screen activation region of the flexible display based on abending of the flexible display.

The controller may display an image on the screen activation region, andthe controller may change at least one of a size and content of theimage according to the bending of the flexible display.

The image may correspond to an application of the flexible displayapparatus, and the controller may control the application according tothe bending of the flexible display.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other features and utilities of the present generalinventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated fromthe following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a flexible display apparatusaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a basic configuration of a flexibledisplay of a flexible display apparatus according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIGS. 3 to 5 are views illustrating a method of sensing bendingaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating a method of sensing bending in adisplay apparatus using a bend sensor according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a method of determining a degree ofbending according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a method of determining a degree ofbending according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIGS. 10 and 11 are views illustrating a method of sensing a bendingdirection using overlapping bending sensors;

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating two bend sensors which are disposed onopposite surfaces of the flexible display;

FIGS. 13A and B are views illustrating an exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept in which one or two bend sensors aredisposed;

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept in which bending is sensed using a pluralityof strain gages;

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a method of sensing a bending directionusing an acceleration sensor which is an example of sensors;

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a detailedconfiguration of a flexible display apparatus to explain operationsaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a detailed configuration of thecontroller of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a structure of a storage to supportoperations of the controller according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept;

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a display method of a flexible displayapparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIGS. 20A-D are views illustrating a method of determining an activationregion according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIGS. 21A-B are views illustrating a method of recognizing a screenactivation region according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept;

FIGS. 22A-B are views illustrating a method of displaying a screen on anactivation region according to a bending manipulation method accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIGS. 23A-E are views illustrating a method of displaying according to ashape of a screen activation region according to an exemplary embodimentof the present general inventive concept;

FIGS. 24A-E and 25A-H are views illustrating a method of displayingaccording to a size and a location of a screen activation regionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept;

FIGS. 26 and 27 are flowcharts illustrating a display method accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 28 is a view illustrating a display method according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 29 is a view illustrating a display method according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 30 is a view illustrating a display method according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIG. 31 is a view illustrating a method of adjusting a screen activationregion according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept;

FIGS. 32A-B are views illustrating a method of displaying according toan adjusted screen activation region according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIGS. 33 and 34 are views illustrating a method of inactivating a screenaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept;

FIG. 35 is a view illustrating a display method according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept;

FIGS. 36A-B are views illustrating an example of a flexible displayapparatus which is embedded in a body; and

FIG. 37 is a view illustrating a flexible display apparatus including apower supply which is attachable and detachable.

FIG. 38 and FIGS. 39A-C are views illustrating examples of a flexibledisplay apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentgeneral inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to the likeelements throughout. The embodiments are described below in order toexplain the present general inventive concept while referring to thefigures.

The matters defined herein, such as detailed construction and elements,are provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplaryembodiments of the present general inventive concept. Thus, it isapparent that exemplary embodiments of the present general inventiveconcept can be carried out without those specifically defined matters.Also, functions or elements known in the related art are not describedin detail since they would obscure the exemplary embodiments withunnecessary detail.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a flexible display apparatus 100according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept. Referring to FIG. 1, a flexible display apparatus 100 includesa flexible display 110, a sensor 120, and a controller 130.

The flexible display 110 displays a screen. The flexible displayapparatus 100 including the flexible display 110 can be bent.Accordingly, the flexible display 110 should have a bendable structureand be made of a material that can be bent. The flexible display 110will be explained in detail below with reference to FIG. 2.

The sensor 120 may sense bending of the flexible display 110.Specifically, the sensor 120 may recognize a bending/folding location, abending/folding direction, a bending/folding angle, a degree ofbending/folding, a bending/folding speed, a number of times thatbending/folding is performed, a bending/folding generating time, and abending/folding holding time. The sensor 120 may include a bend sensoror a pressure sensor (illustrated in FIGS. 3-14, discussed later).

The sensor 120 may recognize a degree of bending by measuring a radiusof curvature (R) at a bending location based on a change in distributionof a resistance value output from the bend sensor or distribution ofpressure sensed by the pressure sensor.

Also, the sensor 120 may recognize a bending speed based on a change ina bending location and a change in a degree of bending sensed based on achange in distribution of a resistance value output from the bend sensoror distribution of pressures sensed by the pressure sensor.

The sensor 120 may sense a change in a bending state. Specifically, thesensor 120 may recognize a change in the bending/folding location, achange in the bending/folding direction, a change in the bending/foldingangle, and a change in the degree of bending/folding.

The controller 130 determines a screen activation region and a screeninactivation region of a display region of the flexible display 110based on bending sensed by the sensor 120. Specifically, the controller130 may discriminate between a screen activation region and a screeninactivation region based on a bending line BL which is formed bybending.

The controller 130 may detect a bending line BL based on a change indistribution of a resistance value output from the bend sensor of thesensor 120, or a change in distribution of pressure sensed by thepressure sensor of the sensor 120. The bending line BL recited hereinmay refer to a point at which the greatest degree of bending occurs on abent area. For example, a virtual line connecting bending points (orbending coordinates) at which the greatest resistance value is outputfrom the bend sensor may be detected as a bending line BL. Also, if thebend sensor is implemented by using sensors separately located at aplurality of points (for example, strain gages), the bending point maybe a point at which each sensor is located, and a virtual lineconnecting sensors that output the greatest resistance values may be abending line BL.

The controller 130 displays a screen on the determined screen activationregion, and converts the screen inactivation region into a standbystate. The screen standby state may refer to a screen turn-off state, ascreen lock state, or a security screen state. The screen off staterefers to a state in which a screen is turned off and input usinginformation displayed on the screen is not possible. The screen lockstate refers to a state in which the screen is turned on, but use of theother functions is not allowed unless a designated input is performed.The security screen state refers to a state in which the user shouldperform a designated input in order to enter a screen activation state.

For example, in the case of an organic light emitting diode (OLED), eachpixel includes a light emitting element and thus can be turned on/off ona pixel basis. If power is not supplied to the light emitting element ofthe OLED, a black screen is displayed and thus the screen inactivationregion may be displayed as black.

In the case of an LCD, a backlight unit of a grid pattern, which isturned on/off on a grid basis, is employed in order to process thescreen inactivation region. Besides this, various methods of controllingthe backlight unit according to a region may be applied.

In some situation, the controller 130 may convert a state of theinactivation region into a turn off state. The turn off state refers toa state in which power is turned off and all input and output arestopped.

In the above example, the inactivation state is one selected from amongthe turn off state, the screen off state, the screen lock state, and thesecurity screen state. However, this is merely an example. Two or morestates may be embodied simultaneously. For example, the screen off stateand the security screen state may be applied in the inactivation statesimultaneously.

If a bending/folding operation sensed by the sensor 120 satisfies apredetermined condition, the controller 130 may recognize the sensedoperation as an operation to convert the screen inactivation region intothe screen activation region.

Specifically, the controller 130 may convert the screen inactivationregion into the screen activation region if a bending operation isperformed at a designated location, if a bending operation is performedat a designated location by more than a designated angle, if acontinuous bending operation is performed at a designated location adesignated number of times, if a bending operation is performed at adesignated location in a designated direction, if a bending operation isperformed at a designated location at higher than a designated speed orwith greater than a designated degree of bending, or if a bendingoperation is maintained at a designated location for more than apredetermined time.

For example, the user may fold the flexible display apparatus 100 inhalf when the flexible display apparatus 100 is not in use. In thiscase, the operation of folding the flexible display apparatus 100 inhalf may be stored so that this operation is not recognized as anoperation to convert the screen inactivation region into the screenactivation region.

If the sensor 120 to sense bending is inactivated in the turn off stateor the screen off state, and if bending by more than a predeterminedangle/greater than a predetermined degree is input, the controller 130automatically recognizes generation of a current caused by bending, andactivates the sensor 120 to recognize bending.

Also, the controller 130 may activate the sensor 120 in the inactivationstate according to a user command input through a specific button (notshown).

The controller 130 may perform a different function for a region that isconverted into the screen activation state according to a type of thescreen inactivation state. For example, the controller 130 may displayan application icon in the screen lock state, and, if a certain regionis converted into the activation state according to bending, thecontroller 130 may display the application icon on the activated region.However, this is merely an example. The controller 130 may display abackground image and an object separate from the background image in thescreen lock state.

If an execution screen of an application corresponding to the screenactivation region is larger than the screen activation region, thecontroller 130 may display an execution screen of another applicationcorresponding to the size of the activation region.

Also, if a graphic user interface (GUI) element displayed on the screenactivation region is moved in a bending direction, the controller 130may execute an application that is placed on a region to which the GUIelement is moved. For example, if the GUI element is moved in a state inwhich a plurality of application icons are displayed on the screenactivation region, the GUI element may overlap with a specificapplication icon, or may be located within a predetermined distance fromthe specific application icon. In this case, an applicationcorresponding to the specific application icon may be executed.

Determining a Screen Activation Region

The controller 130 may determine one of a plurality of display regionsthat is formed by a detected bending line BL and at least two of thefour sides of the flexible display 110 as a screen activation region,and may determine the remaining display regions as a screen inactivationregion.

For example, the controller 130 may determine a region that is formed bytwo points at which a detected bending line BL meets first and secondsides of the flexible display 110 which are adjacent to each other, anda vertex at which the first side and the second side meet each other, asa screen activation region, and may determine the other region as ascreen inactivation region. An example of this situation is illustratedin FIG. 23B, discussed later, illustrating screen activation region 232.

Also, the controller 130 may determine a region that is formed by twopoints at which a bending line BL meets two opposing sides of theflexible display 110, and two vertexes at which the two opposing sidesmeet a third side connecting the two opposing sides, as a screenactivation region, and may determine the remainder of the flexibledisplay 110 as a screen inactivation region. An example of thissituation is illustrated in FIG. 23A, discussed later, illustratingscreen activation region 231.

The controller 130 may determine a location movement of a display regionwhich is sensed by a bending operation from among the display regions ofthe flexible display 110 divided with reference to a bending line BL asa screen activation region, and may determine the remainder of theflexible display 110 as a screen inactivation region. Specifically, thecontroller 130 may determine at least one of a location movement of aregion which is sensed by a folding and hold operation, a locationmovement of a region which is sensed by a folding and flap operation,and the other region which contacts the region the location movement ofwhich is sensed by the folding and flap operation, as a screenactivation region. Examples of this situation are illustrated in FIGS.22A and 22B, discussed later, illustrating screen activation regions Aand B, respectively.

The region the location movement of which is sensed by the folding andhold operation may be a front surface or a rear surface of the flexibledisplay 110. If the region the location movement of which is sensed bythe folding and hold operation is a rear surface, the flexible display110 may be embodied as a double-sided display. An example of thissituation is illustrated in FIG. 20A, discussed later, illustratingscreen activation region A.

Detailed examples of determining the screen activation region and thescreen inactivation region will be explained below with reference to thedrawings.

Display on an Activation Region

The controller 130 may determine a screen activation regioncorresponding to bending, and may display a screen corresponding to thedetermined screen activation region. For example, the controller 130 mayplace a (0.0) point on an edge or a corner which is gripped by the userto be bent, and to activate graphics from the (0.0) point to a portionwhere a bending line BL is formed. The controller 130 may displayinformation which is optimized to the size of the determined screenactivation region.

Specifically, the controller 130 may rescale an image according to thesize of the screen activation region using vector graphic technology,and may display the image. That is, in a GUI of the vector graphictechnology, an image is not damaged even if the size of the image ischanged. Therefore, the controller 130 may rescale the image and displayinformation optimized to the size of the screen activation region.

If text information is displayed, the controller 130 may optimize thetext information to the size of the screen activation region byadjusting the number of text lines and the number of texts included inone line. The controller 130 may change a text size according to thescreen activation region. For example, the controller 130 may change thetext size within a predetermined minimum size and within a predeterminedmaximum size.

The controller 130 may rearrange and display contents corresponding tothe screen activation region considering a shape and a location of thescreen activation region and a direction of a bending line BL.

The controller 130 may convert corresponding contents into variouslayouts considering a tilting angle of the flexible display apparatus100 as well as the shape of the screen activation region of the flexibledisplay apparatus 100. For example, since there is a shaded region dueto an angle of view if a bending region is activated, brightness of thedisplay may be automatically adjusted considering a bending angle.

The controller 130 may convert corresponding contents into variouslayouts considering a radius of curvature (R) generated by bending. Forexample, since a layout shape suitable for a user's view fieldconsidering content readability may vary according to a radius ofcurvature (R), a suitable layout may be provided considering a bendingangle.

If the screen activation region is determined, the controller 130 maydisplay information on a function having highest priority from among aplurality of functions on the determined screen activation region.Specifically, the controller 130 may display a widget of highestpriority or an application that is frequently used on the screenactivation region. The priority may be determined according to thenumber of times that an application is used and a using time. Forexample, information of an application in which clock, weather, or newsclip is received, a button of a frequently used application, andinformation on a recently used application may be displayed. Inparticular, in the case of a message application, only the last-receivedmessage information may be displayed on the activation region. If thereare many message texts, the message texts may be changed atpredetermined time intervals, or if there is user manipulation on thescreen activation region (for example, touch or touch and drag),information may be changed.

Specifically, the controller 130 determines the number of executablefunctions according to the size and the shape of the determined screenactivation region, executes functions as many as the determined numberfrom among the plurality of functions according to priority, andgenerates a screen including an object corresponding to each of theexecuted functions. In this case, information on the plurality offunctions and information on priority given to the plurality offunctions may be pre-stored or may be received from an external source.Also, the priority may be determined differently according to a locationof the activation region.

Information on at least one function matching each region of theflexible display 110 may be pre-stored, and, if the screen activationregion is determined, the controller 130 may execute a function matchinga location of the screen activation region and may generate a screen. Inthis case, information on priority given to each function may be furtherstored, and, if a region matching a plurality of functions is includedin the activation region, the controller 130 determines the number offunctions to be executed according to the size and the shape of thescreen activation region, executes the determined number of functionsfrom among the plurality of functions in sequence according to thepriority or simultaneously, and generates a screen including an objectcorresponding to each of the executed functions.

If the screen is in a standby state but a specific application is beingexecuted, the controller 130 may execute a designated function on thescreen activation region formed by bending. The designated function maybe a function that is related to the application being executed, or maybe a basic function such as a notice function, an RSS Feed checkfunction, a clock function, a calendar function, a schedule function,and application notification information. For example, if a specificapplication is being executed on a standby background screen, asub-function of the application which is being executed may be executedon the screen activation region by bending, or another relevantapplication may be executed. That is, if music is reproduced, a musiccontrol button may be displayed, and, if a network is connected, adisconnect button may be displayed. The designated function may be afunction that is already set by the user. For example, the user may mapa photo application onto the screen activation region. In this case, apre-stored photo, a photo added to an SNS, or a photo popular on theinternet may be automatically reproduced on the screen activationregion.

The controller 130 may display a screen to release a lock state on thescreen activation region. For example, if a button is displayed on thescreen activation region, a password is input, and bending is released,the flexible display 110 may be activated, or, if bending is released ina state in which at least one touch is performed on the screenactivation region, the flexible display 110 may be activated. In thiscase, a GUI to induce or guide touch may be displayed on the screenactivation region.

If there is application notification information that is not checked,the controller 130 may display the notification information on theactivation region along with information on a corresponding applicationin a format of a text.

If there is multi-bending, the controller 130 may display screenscorresponding to a plurality of activation regions determined by themulti-bending.

If a certain region is bent while in a state in which a screen has beenactivated, the controller 130 may change the corresponding bent regionto a different screen.

If bending is performed while in a state in which an original screen isdisplayed on an entire activation region of the flexible display 110,the controller 130 may reconfigure the original screen according to thesize and the shape of the screen activation region following thebending, and may display the reconfigured screen on the activationregion. An example of this situation is illustrated in FIG. 30,discussed later.

Also, if bending is performed while in a state in which an originalscreen is displayed on the entire activation region of the flexibledisplay 110, the controller 130 may display a part of the originalscreen that corresponds to the size and the shape of the original screenactivation region on the activation region following the bending. Anexample of this situation is illustrated in FIG. 33, discussed later.

Also, in a state in which one application is executed and an executionscreen of the application is displayed on the entire flexible display110, if a notice message regarding a second application is received, thenotice message may be displayed on a certain region of the executionscreen, as illustrated for example in FIGS. 26 and 27, discussed later.

If the region on which the notice message is displayed is bent, thecontroller 130 may display a whole text of the notice message on thebent region, while displaying the execution screen of the application onthe remainder of the activation region of the flexible display 110. Anexample of this situation is illustrated in FIG. 26.

If flap manipulation to unfold the bent region is sensed in the state inwhich the whole text of the notice message is displayed on the bentregion, the controller 130 executes the second application and displaysan execution screen of the second application on the entire activationregion of the flexible display 110 following the flap manipulation. Anexample of this situation is illustrated in FIG. 27, discussed later.

If the flexible display apparatus 100 is re-bent in the state in whichthe execution screen of the second application is displayed on theentire activation region of the flexible display 110, the controller 130may execute a sub-function corresponding to the re-bent region fromamong sub-functions executable by the second application. An example ofthis situation is illustrated in FIG. 27, discussed later.

If the flexible display apparatus 100 is re-bent in a direction oppositeto the bending direction of the region on which the notice message isdisplayed, the controller 130 may delete the displayed notice messageand may display the execution screen of the first application on theentire region of the flexible display 110 again, as illustrated forexample in FIG. 26, discussed later.

Also, the controller 130 may display different information according toa location of a bent region. For example, if a corner of the flexibledisplay 110 is bent, the controller 130 may display a widget which isdisplayed as an image such as watch or weather information rather thantext-based information, and, if a text needs to be displayed, maydisplay the text of more than one line on a location adjacent to thebending line BL. Examples of this situation are illustrated in FIGS. 32Aand 32B, discussed later.

If the bent region returns to a flat state, the controller 130 may enterthe standby state, as illustrated for example in FIG. 28, discussedlater.

Extending a Screen Action Region

If the flexible display 110 is bent such that one end contacts theopposite end and then returns to an original flat state, the controller130 may extend a screen activation region to an entire region of theflexible display 110.

The controller 130 determines a screen activation region and a screeninactivation region with reference to a bending line BL, and, iftouching a location of the bending line BL and dragging to anotherlocation, that is, touch and drag manipulation is sensed dragging to alocation on the screen inactivation region, the controller 130 mayextend the activation region to the location to which the bending lineBL is moved, as illustrated for example in FIG. 31, discussed later.

The controller 130 determines a screen activation region and a screeninactivation region with reference to a bending line BL, and, if thebending line BL is continuously moved by bending manipulation ratherthan touch manipulation in a state in which a screen is displayed on thescreen activation region defined by the bending line BL, the controller130 may extend or contract the screen activation region to the locationto which the bending line BL is moved. Determining whether the locationof the bending line BL is moved may be performed according to whethercoordinate values of the bending line BL outputting the maximumresistance values are continuously changed in a specific direction ornot. An example of this situation is illustrated in FIG. 30, discussedlater.

If the screen activation region is extended, the controller 130 mayenlarge and display the existing information displayed on the originalscreen activation region, or may display additional information besidethe existing information on the extended screen activation region, asillustrated for example in FIG. 30, discussed later.

Another Exemplary Embodiment

Although one bending line BL is provided in the above exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept, this is merely anexample. Two or more bending lines BL may be provided. If two or morebending lines BL are sensed, at least one of the screen activationregion and the screen inactivation region may include two or moredivided regions. These divided regions are not necessarily adjacent toone another. For example, a first activation region may be defined by acorner of the flexible display 110 and a first bending line BL is formedby two points at which the first bending line BL meets first and secondsides of the flexible display 110, which are adjacent to each other, anda vertex at which the first and second sides meet each other. A secondactivation region may be defined by another corner of the flexibledisplay 110 and a second bending line BL. Specifically, the secondactivation region may be formed by two points at which a second bendingline BL meets third and fourth sides of the flexible display 110, whichare adjacent to each other, and a vertex at which the third and fourthsides meet each other. The remaining portion of the flexible display 110may be a screen inactivation region. Alternatively, the first and secondregions defined by the corners of the flexible display 110 may insteadbe an inactivation region, and the remainder of the flexible display 110may be a screen activation region.

Also, in the above exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept, a region of the flexible display 110, which is in theinactivation state, is converted from the inactivation state to theactivation state by bending. However, this is merely an example.According to another exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept, a region of the screen in the activation state may beconverted from the activation state to the inactivation state bybending.

For example, if a certain region of the screen in the activation stateis folded, contents displayed inside the folded region are moved to aregion on which folding is not performed, and the folded region may beconverted from the activation state into the inactivation state. In thiscase, contents originally displayed on the region on which folding isnot performed are also moved to accommodate the contents from the foldedregion, such that some of the contents may disappear from the screen.Alternatively, all of the contents displayed on the region on whichfolding is not performed may disappear from the screen. An example ofthis situation is illustrated in FIG. 33, discussed later.

Alternatively, the contents displayed inside the folded region may notdisplayed on the screen, such that only the contents originallydisplayed on the region on which folding is not performed may bedisplayed.

Also, functions associated with the contents displayed on the region onwhich folding is not performed may be executed on the activation regionregardless of the contents displayed on the folded region.

Various Functions Provided on a Screen Activation Region

Various functions may be provided on the screen activation region of theflexible display apparatus 100 according to a type of the flexibledisplay apparatus 100.

For example, if the flexible display apparatus 100 is a mobile phone,the controller 130 may perform a function corresponding to the screenactivation region from among functions such as phone connection, callblock, menu display, text exchange, application selection or execution,and web browser execution and termination. As another example, if theflexible display apparatus 100 is a television, the controller 130 mayperform a function corresponding to the screen activation region fromamong functions such as channel selection, volume adjustment, brightnessadjustment, color adjustment, or contrast adjustment. The flexibledisplay apparatus 100 may be embodied by various kinds of displayapparatuses such as a personal digital assistant (PDA), an electronicalbum, an electronic book, an electronic scheduler, an MP3 player, atablet PC, a laptop computer, or a monitor, and may perform variousfunctions according to characteristics of each apparatus.

As described above, the flexible display 110 should be manufactured in abendable form. The sensor 120 may sense a bending state in various ways.

Hereinafter, a detailed configuration of the flexible display 110 and abending sensing method thereof will be explained.

A Configuration of a Flexible Display and a Method of Sensing BendingThereof

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a basic structure of a flexible display110 of a flexible display apparatus 100 according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present general inventive concept. Referring to FIG.2, the display 110 includes a substrate 111, a driver 112, a displaypanel 113, and a protection layer 114.

The flexible display apparatus 100 refers to an apparatus which can bebent, crooked, folded, or rolled like paper, while having displaycharacteristics of a standard, non-flexible flat panel displayapparatus. Accordingly, the flexible display apparatus 100 should bemanufactured on a flexible substrate.

Specifically, the substrate 111 may be implemented by using a plastic(for example, a high molecular film) which is deformable by an externalpressure.

The substrate 111 implemented with a plastic has a structure which isformed by performing barrier coating opposite surfaces of a base film.The base film may be implemented by using various resins such aspolyimide (PI), polycarbonate (PC), polyethyleneterephtalate (PET),polyethersulfone (PES), polythylenenaphthalate (PEN), and fiberreinforced plastic (FRP). The barrier coating is performed on theopposite surfaces of the base film, and an organic membrane or aninorganic membrane may be used for the purpose of maintainingflexibility.

The substrate 111 may be formed of other flexible materials instead ofplastic. Examples include thin glass or metal foil.

The driver 112 drives display panel 113. Specifically, the driver 112applies a driving voltage to a plurality of pixels (not shown) whichconstitute the display panel 113, and may be implemented by using a-siTFT, a low temperature poly silicon (LTPS) TFT, or an organic TFT(OTFT). The driver 112 may also be implemented in various formsaccording to the form of the display panel 113. For instance, thedisplay panel 113 may be made of an organic light emitting substancewhich includes a plurality of pixel cells, and an electrode layer whichcovers opposite surfaces of the organic light emitting substance. Inthis case, the driver 112 may include a plurality of transistorscorresponding to the plurality of pixel cells of the display panel 113.The controller 130 applies an electric signal to a gate of eachtransistor and controls the pixel cells connected to the transistors toemit light. Accordingly, an image is displayed.

The display panel 113 may also be implemented by using, for example, anelectroluminescent display (EL), an electrophoretic display (EPD), anelectrochromic display (ECD), a liquid crystal display (LCD), an activematrix LCD (AMLCD), or a plasma display panel (PDP), besides an organiclight emitting diode (OLED). However, if the display panel 113 isembodied by the LCD, it cannot emit light by itself and thus requires aseparate backlight unit. If the LCD does not use backlight, it usesambient light. In order to use a display panel 113 as the LCD withoutthe backlight unit, an environment which admits plenty of light, such asan outdoor environment, may be used to illuminate the LCD and therebyenable its operation by a user.

The protection layer 114 protects the display panel 113. For example,the protection layer 114 may be made of ZrO, CeO₂, or ThO₂. Theprotection layer 114 may be manufactured as a transparent film and maycover the entire surface of the display panel 113.

In addition to the construction illustrated in FIG. 2, the flexibledisplay 110 may be implemented by using electronic paper (e-paper). Thee-paper is a display that applies general ink characteristics to paper,and is different from a general flat panel display in that it usesreflected light. The e-paper may change a picture or text usingelectrophoresis which uses a twist ball or a capsule.

If the flexible display 110 is made of elements which are made of atransparent material, the flexible display 110 may be implemented as adisplay apparatus that is bendable and transparent. For example, if thesubstrate 111 is made of a polymer material such as plastic havingtransparency, if the driver 112 is implemented by using a transparenttransistor, and if the display panel 113 is implemented by using atransparent organic light emitting layer and a transparent electrode,the flexible display 110 may have transparency.

The transparent transistor refers to a transistor that is manufacturedby substituting a transparent material such as zinc oxide or titaniumoxide for the opaque silicon of a standard thin film transistor. Thetransparent electrode may be made of advanced materials such as indiumtin oxide (ITO) or graphene. Graphene refers to a material that has aplanar structure of a honeycomb shape in which carbon atoms areconnected to one another, and has transparency. The transparent organiclight emitting layer may be implemented by using various materials.

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a method of sensing bending according toan exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

The flexible display apparatus 100 can be bent by an external pressureand its shape can be deformed. The term “bending” may include termsreferring to deforming the shape, including normal bending, folding, androlling. “Normal bending” means a state in which the flexible displayapparatus 100 is bent along a line. “Folding” refers to a state in whichthe flexible display apparatus 100 is folded along a line. Folding andnormal bending may be distinguished from each other by a degree ofbending. For example, if bending is performed by more than apredetermined bending angle, the bending is defined as folding, and, ifbending is performed by less than the predetermined bending angle, thebending is defined as normal bending.

“Rolling” refers to a state in which the flexible display apparatus 100is rolled. The rolling is also determined based on a bending angle. Forexample, if bending by more than a predetermined bending angle is sensedover a predetermined area, the bending is defined as rolling. On theother hand, if bending by less than the predetermined bending angle issensed in an area relatively smaller than that of rolling, the bendingis defined as folding. Normal bending, folding and rolling describedabove may be determined based on a radius of curvature besides thebending angle.

Also, a state in which the rolled flexible display apparatus 100 has asubstantially circular or oval cross section may be defined as rolling,regardless of a radius of curvature.

However, definitions of various shape deformation examples describedabove are merely an example and shape deformation may be defineddifferently according to the type, size, weight, and characteristic ofthe flexible display apparatus 100. For example, if the flexible displayapparatus 100 can be bent to such an extent that the surfaces are incontact with each other, the state in which the surfaces of the flexibledisplay apparatus 100 are in contact with each other by bending may bedefined as folding. On the other hand, a state in which a front surfaceand a rear surface of the flexible display apparatus 100 are in contactwith each other by bending may be defined as rolling.

Hereinafter, normal bending according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept is referred to as bending for theconvenience of explanation.

The flexible display apparatus 100 may sense bending in various ways.

For example, the sensor 120 may include a bend sensor 21 which isdisposed on one surface such as a front surface or a rear surface of theflexible display 110, or a bend sensor 21 which is disposed on oppositesurfaces of the flexible display 110. The controller 130 may sensebending using a value which is sensed by the bend sensor 21 of thesensor 130.

The bend sensor 21 refers to a sensor that can be bent and has aresistance value which varies according to a degree of bending. The bendsensor 21 may be implemented by using devices such as for example anoptical fiber bending sensor, a pressure sensor, and a strain gauge.

The sensor 120 may sense a resistance value of the bend sensor 21 usinga level of a voltage applied to the bend sensor 21 or an intensity of acurrent flowing in the bend sensor 21, and may sense bending in alocation of the bend sensor 21 according to the sensed resistance value.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 3, the bend sensor 21 is embedded in the frontsurface of the flexible display 110. However, this is merely an exampleand the bend sensor 21 may be embedded in the rear surface of theflexible display 110 or may be embedded in opposite surfaces. Also, theshape, number, and location of bend sensors 21 may be changed variously.For example, the flexible display 110 may include a single bend sensor21 or a plurality of bend sensors 21 which are connected to one another.The single bend sensor 21 may sense one bending data, but may include aplurality of sensing channels to sense a plurality of bending data.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a plurality of bar-shaped bend sensors21 which are arranged in a vertical direction and a horizontal directionin a grid pattern.

Referring to FIG. 3, the sensor 120 includes bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5which are arranged in a first direction, and bend sensors 21-6 to 21-10which are arranged in a second direction which is perpendicular to thefirst direction. The bend sensors 21 are disposed away from one anotherby a predetermined distance.

In FIG. 3, five bend sensors (21-1 to 21-5, or 21-6 to 21-10) arearranged in each of the horizontal direction and the vertical directionin a grid formation. However, this is merely an example and the numberof bend sensors 21 may be changed according to a size of the flexibledisplay apparatus 100. The bend sensors 21 are arranged in thehorizontal direction and the vertical direction for the sake of sensingbending from the entire area of the flexible display apparatus 100.Therefore, if only a part of the flexible display apparatus 100 isflexible or if the flexible display apparatus 100 needs to sense bendingfrom only a part of the apparatus, the bend sensor 21 may be arranged inonly a corresponding portion of the apparatus.

Each of the bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5, 21-6 to 21-10 may be implementedby using for example an electric resistance sensor which uses anelectric resistance, or a micro optical fiber sensor which uses a strainof an optical fiber. Hereinafter, the bend sensor 21 will be explainedon the assumption that the bend sensor 21 is an electric resistancesensor for the convenience of explanation.

Specifically, if the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent so that itscenter area with reference to left and right edges is orienteddownwardly as shown in FIG. 4, tension caused by bending is exerted tothe bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5 which are arranged in the horizontaldirection. Therefore, the resistance value of each of the bend sensors21-1 to 21-5 arranged in the horizontal direction is changed. The sensor120 senses the change in the output value output from each of the bendsensor 21-1 to 21-5 and thus determines that bending is performed in thehorizontal direction with reference to the center of a display surface.In FIG. 4, the center area is bent in a downward direction (hereinafter,referred to as a Z− direction) which is perpendicular to the displaysurface. However, even if the center area is bent in an upward direction(hereinafter, referred to as a Z+ direction) with reference to thedisplay surface, the bending may be sensed based on the change in theoutput values of the bend sensors 21-1 to 21-5 arranged in thehorizontal direction.

Also, if the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent so that the centerarea with reference to upper and lower edges is oriented upwardly asshown in FIG. 5, tension is exerted to the bend sensors 21-6 to 21-10which are arranged in the vertical direction. The sensor 120 may senseshape deformation of the vertical direction based on the output valuesof the bend sensors 21-6 to 21-10 arranged in the vertical direction.Although the bending in the Z+ direction is illustrated in FIG. 5,bending in the Z− direction may also be sensed using the bend sensors21-6 to 21-10 which are arranged in the vertical direction.

If shape deformation occurs in a diagonal direction, tension is exertedto all of the bend sensors 21 which are arranged in the horizontaldirection and the vertical direction. Therefore, the shape deformationof the diagonal direction may be sensed based on the output values ofthe bend sensors 21 which are arranged in the horizontal and verticaldirections.

Hereinafter, a method of sensing each shape deformation such as normalbending, folding, and rolling using a bend sensor 31 will be explainedin detail with reference to FIGS. 6 and 7.

FIGS. 6 and 7 are views illustrating a method of sensing bending in theflexible display apparatus 100 using bend sensors 31 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

First, FIG. 6 is a cross section view of the flexible display apparatus100 when the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent.

If the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent, the bend sensors 31,which are arranged on one surface or opposite surfaces of the flexibledisplay apparatus 100, are also bent and have resistance valuescorresponding to a magnitude of exerted tension, and output valuescorresponding to the resistance values.

For instance, if the center of the flexible display apparatus 100 isbent in the Z-direction as shown in FIG. 6, a bend sensor 31-1 which isdisposed on a rear surface of the flexible display apparatus 100 is alsobent and outputs a resistance value according to a magnitude of exertedtension.

In this case, the magnitude of the tension increases in proportion to adegree of bending. If the bending occurs as shown in FIG. 6, thegreatest bending occurs in the center area. Accordingly, the greatesttension is exerted to the bend sensor 31-1, which is disposed at a pointa3 which is the center area, and accordingly, the bend sensor 31-1 hasthe greatest resistance value. On the other hand, the degree of bendinggradually decreases toward the outside. Accordingly, the bend sensor31-1 has smaller resistance values as it goes away from the point a3 topoints a2 and a1 or points a4 and a5.

If the resistance value output from the bend sensor 31 has the greatestvalue at a specific point and gradually decreases in oppositedirections, the sensor 120 may determine that the area from which thegreatest resistance value is sensed is most significantly bent. Also, ifan area has no change in the resistance value, the sensor 120 determinesthat the area is a flat area in which bending is not performed, and, ifan area has the resistance value changed greater than a predeterminedvalue, determines that the area is a bent area in which any degree ofbending occurs.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a method of defining a bending areaaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept. FIG. 7 is a view illustrating the case in which the flexibledisplay apparatus 100 is bent in the horizontal direction with referenceto the front surface, and thus for the convenience of explanation doesnot illustrate the bend sensors 31 which are arranged in the verticaldirection. Although different reference numerals are used for the bendsensors 31 in each drawing, the bend sensors 21 illustrated in FIG. 3may be used as they are illustrated in FIG. 3.

A bending area is an area in which the flexible display apparatus 100 isbent. Since the bend sensor 31 is also bent by bending the flexibledisplay apparatus 100, all points at which the bend sensors 31 outputdifferent resistance values from originals values may be defined as abending area.

The sensor 120 may sense a size of a bending line BL, a direction of thebending line BL, a location of the bending line BL, a number of bendinglines BL, a number of times that bending is performed, a bending speedof shape deformation, a size of a bending area, a location of thebending area, and a number of bending areas, based on a relationshipbetween the points at which a change in the resistance value is sensed.

Specifically, if a distance between the points at which the change inthe resistance value is sensed lies within a predetermined distance, thepoints are sensed as one bending area. On the other hand, if thedistance between the points at which the change in the resistance valueis sensed lies beyond the predetermined distance, different bendingareas are defined with reference to these points. This will be explainedin detail below with reference to FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a method of sensing one bending area. Ifthe flexible display apparatus 100 is bent as shown in FIG. 7, theresistance values from points a1 to a5 of a bend sensor 31-1, frompoints b1 to b5 of a bend sensor 31-2, from c1 to c5 of a bend sensor31-3, from points dl to d5 of a bend sensor 31-4, and from points e1 toe5 of a bend sensor 31-5 are different from those in the original state.

In this case, the points at which the change in the resistance value issensed in each bend sensor 31-1 to 31-5 are located within apredetermined distance and are continuously arranged.

Accordingly, the sensor 120 senses an area 32 which includes all of thepoints, from points a1 to a5 of the bend sensor 31-1, from points b1 tob5 of the bend sensor 31-2, from points c1 to c5 of the bend sensor31-3, from points dl to d5 of the bend sensor 31-4, and from points e1to e5 of the bend sensor 31-5, as one bending area.

The bending area may include a bending line BL. The bending line BLrefers to a line that connects different points at which the greatestvalue is output from the bend sensor 31. That is, a line that connectsthe points at which the greatest resistance value is sensed in eachbending area is defined as a bending line BL.

For instance, in the case of FIG. 7, a bending line BL is defined in thebending area 32, connecting points a3, b3, c3, d3, and e3, which arepoints at which the greatest resistance value is output in the bendsensors 31-1, 31-2, 31-3, 31-4, and 31-5, respectively. FIG. 7illustrates the bending line BL which is formed in the center area ofthe flexible display 110 in the vertical direction, which may be Z− orZ+.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a method of determining a degree ofbending according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 8, the flexible display apparatus 100 determines adegree of bending of the flexible display apparatus 100 using a changein the resistance value output from a bend sensor 41 at a predeterminedinterval, that is, a bending angle.

Specifically, the controller 130 calculates a difference between aresistance value of a point where the greatest resistance value of abend sensor is output and a resistance value output at a point which isdisposed away from the point of the greatest resistance value by apredetermined distance.

The controller 130 determines a degree of bending using the calculateddifference in the resistance value. Specifically, the flexible displayapparatus 100 divides the degree of bending into a plurality of levels,matches each level with a resistance value of a predetermined range, andstores the matched values.

Accordingly, the flexible display apparatus 100 determines the degree ofbending according to which level of the plurality of levels correspondsto the calculated resistance value difference.

For instance, as shown in FIG. 8, the degree of bending in a Z+direction is determined based on a difference between a resistance valueoutput at a point a5 where a bend sensor 41 disposed on the rear surfaceof the flexible display apparatus 100 outputs the greatest resistancevalue, and a resistance value output at a point a4 which is disposedaway from the point a5 by a predetermined distance.

Specifically, a level corresponding to the resistance value difference,which is calculated in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, is identifiedfrom among the plurality of pre-stored levels, and a degree of bendingis determined based on the identified level. The degree of bending maybe represented by a bending angle or an intensity of bending.

If the degree of bending increases between points a4 and a5 as shown inFIG. 8, the difference between the resistance value output at the pointa5 and the resistance value output at the point a4 increases incomparison to an existing resistance value difference. Accordingly, thecontroller 130 may determine that the degree of bending increases.

The flexible display apparatus 100 according to the present exemplaryembodiment may be bent in different directions, including a Z+ directionand a Z− direction.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a method of determining a degree ofbending according to an exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept, using a bend sensor 51.

As shown in FIG. 9, a degree of bending may be determined based on achange in a bending radius R. Since the bending radius R is determinedbased on a change in a resistance value of each bend sensor 51 as in theexemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, a detailed description isomitted. As the flexible display 110 is bent from a first position(illustrated with solid lines) to a second position (illustrated withdotted lines), the resistance value of each bend sensor 51 changes,indicating the bending radius R likewise is changing.

As described above, a layout of a screen activation region may varyaccording to a bending radius R.

The bending direction may be sensed in various ways. For instance, twobend sensors 51 may be disposed one on the other and the bendingdirection is determined based on a difference in change in theresistance value of each bend sensor 51. A method of sensing a bendingdirection using overlapping bend sensors 61 will be explained withreference to FIGS. 10 to 11.

Referring to FIG. 10, two bend sensors 61-1 and 61-2 may be disposedoverlapping each other on one side of the flexible display 110. In thiscase, if bending is performed in one direction, different resistancevalues are output from the upper bend sensor 61-1 and the lower bendsensor 61-2 at a point where the bending is performed. Accordingly, abending direction may be determined by comparing the resistance valuesof the two bend sensors 61-1 and 61-2 at the same point.

Specifically, if the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent in the Z+direction as shown in FIG. 11, tension exerted to the lower bend sensor61-2 is greater than that of the upper bend sensor 61-1 at a point ‘A’corresponding to a bending line BL.

On the other hand, if the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent in theZ− direction, tension exerted to the upper bend sensor 61-1 is greaterthan that of the lower bend sensor 61-2.

Accordingly, the controller 130 senses the bending direction bycomparing the resistance values of the two bend sensors 61-1 and 61-2 atthe point A.

Although the two bend sensors 61-1 and 61-2 are disposed overlappingeach other on one side of the flexible display 110 in FIGS. 10 and 11,the bend sensors 61-1 and 61-2 may be disposed on opposite surfaces ofthe flexible display 110.

FIG. 12 illustrates the two bend sensors 61-1 and 61-2 which aredisposed on the opposite surfaces of the flexible display 110.

Accordingly, if the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent in a firstdirection perpendicular to the screen, that is, the Z+ direction, thebend sensor 61-1 which is disposed on a first surface of the oppositesurfaces of the flexible display 110 is subject to a compressive force,whereas the bend sensor 61-2 which is disposed on a second surface issubject to tension. On the other hand, if the flexible display apparatus100 is bent in a second direction opposite to the first direction, thatis, the Z-direction, the bend sensor 61-2 disposed on the second surfaceis subject to a compressive force, whereas the bend sensor 61-1 disposedon the first surface is subject to tension. As described above, thedifferent values are detected from the two bend sensors 61 according tothe bending direction and the controller 130 determines the bendingdirection according to a detection characteristic of the value.

Although the bending direction is sensed using the two bend sensors 61-1and 61-2 in FIGS. 10 to 12, the bending direction may be sensed by meansof only a strain gage 80 (illustrated in FIG. 14) disposed on onesurface of the flexible display 110. That is, a compressive force ortension is exerted to the strain gage 80 disposed on one surfaceaccording to a bending direction, and thus a bending direction can bedetermined by identifying a characteristic of the output value. Anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept usingstrain gages 80 is described later with reference to FIG. 14.

FIG. 13A illustrates an example of a single bend sensor 71 which isdisposed on one surface of the flexible display 110 to sense bending.Referring to FIG. 13A, the bend sensor 71 may be implemented in a formof a looped curve forming a circle, a quadrangle, or other polygons, andmay be disposed along an edge of the flexible display 110. Thecontroller 130 may determine a point at which a change in an outputvalue of the looped curve is sensed to be a bending area. The bendsensor 71 may be connected to the flexible display 110 in a form of anopen curve such as an S shape, a Z shape, or a zigzag shape.

FIG. 13B illustrates two bend sensors 71-1 and 71-2 which intersect.Referring to FIG. 13B, a first bend sensor 71-1 is disposed on a firstsurface of the flexible display 110 and a second bend sensor 71-2 isdisposed on a second surface of the flexible display 110. The first bendsensor 71-1 is disposed on the first surface of the display 110 in afirst diagonal direction, and the second bend sensor 71-2 is disposed onthe second surface in a second diagonal direction. Accordingly, outputvalues and output points of the first and second bend sensors 71-1 and71-2 are changed according to various bending conditions such as a casein which each corner of the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent, acase in which each edge is bent, a case in which a center is bent, and acase in which folding or rolling of the flexible display apparatus 100is performed. Accordingly, the controller 130 may determine which typeof bending is performed according to a characteristic of the outputvalue.

Although line type bend sensors 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, and 71 are used inthe above-described exemplary embodiments of the present generalinventive concept, bending may be sensed using a plurality of separatestrain gages 80.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating a method of sensing bending using aplurality of strain gages 80 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept. Each strain gage 80 uses metal or asemiconductor in which a resistance is greatly changed according to anapplied force, and senses deformation of a surface of an object to bemeasured according to a change in the resistance value. A material suchas metal increases a resistance value if its length is stretched by anexternal force, and decreases the resistance value if the length iscontracted. Accordingly, it is determined whether bending is performedor not by sensing a change in the resistance value.

Referring to FIG. 14, a plurality of strain gages 80 are arranged alongan edge of the flexible display 110. The number of strain gages 80 maybe changed according to a size and a shape of the display 110, or apredetermined bending sensing resolution.

In the state in which the strain gages 80 are arranged as shown in FIG.14, a user may bend a certain point in a certain direction.Specifically, if a certain corner of the flexible display apparatus 100is bent, a force is exerted on a strain gage 80 overlapped with abending line BL from among strain gages 80-1 to 80-n which are arrangedin a horizontal direction. Accordingly, an output value of thecorresponding strain gage 80 increases in comparison with output valuesof the other strain gages 80. Also, a force is exerted to a strain gage80 overlapped with the bending line BL from among strain gages 80-n,80-n+1 to 80-m which are arranged in a vertical direction, and thus anoutput value is changed. The controller 130 determines a line connectingthe two strain gages 80 in which the output values are changed as abending line BL.

Also, in addition to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 11to 14, the flexible display apparatus 100 may sense a bending directionusing various sensors such as a gyro sensor, a geomagnetic sensor, andan acceleration sensor.

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating a method of sensing a bending directionusing an acceleration sensor 81 for example. Referring to FIG. 15, theflexible display apparatus 100 includes a plurality of accelerationsensors 81-1 and 81-2.

The acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 can measure acceleration of amotion and a direction of the acceleration. Specifically, theacceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 output a sensing value correspondingto acceleration of gravity which changes according to a slope of anapparatus where those sensors are attached. Accordingly, if theacceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 are disposed on opposite edges of theflexible display apparatus 100, output values sensed by the accelerationsensors 81-1 and 81-2 are changed when the flexible display apparatus100 is bent. The controller 130 calculates a pitch angle and a rollangle using the output values sensed by the acceleration sensors 81-1and 81-2. Accordingly, the controller 130 may determine a bendingdirection based on changes in the pitch angle and the roll angle sensedby the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2.

In FIG. 15, the acceleration sensors 81-1 and 81-2 are disposed onopposite edges in the horizontal direction with reference to the frontsurface of the flexible display apparatus 100. However, the accelerationsensors 81-1 and 81-2 may be disposed in the vertical direction. In thiscase, if the flexible display apparatus 100 is bent in the verticaldirection, a bending direction is sensed according to measurement valuessensed by the acceleration sensors 81-3 and 81-4 in the verticaldirection.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept, the acceleration sensors 81 may be disposed at all ofthe left, right, upper and right edges, or may be disposed on corners.

As described above, a bending direction may be sensed using a gyrosensor or a geomagnetic sensor besides the acceleration sensor. A gyrosensor refers to a sensor which, if a rotational motion occurs, detectsan angular velocity by measuring Coriolis' force exerted in a velocitydirection of the motion. Based on a measurement value of the gyrosensor, a direction of the rotational motion can be sensed and thus abending direction can also be sensed. The geomagnetic sensor refers to asensor which senses azimuth using a 2-axis or 3-axis fluxgate. If such ageomagnetic sensor is applied, the geomagnetic sensor disposed on eachedge of the flexible display apparatus 100 suffers from locationmovement when the edge is bent, and outputs an electric signalcorresponding to a change in geomagnetism caused by the locationmovement. The controller 130 may calculate a yaw angle using the valueoutput from the geomagnetic sensor. According to a change in thecalculated yaw angle, various bending characteristics such as a bendingarea and a bending direction can be determined.

As described above, the flexible display apparatus 100 may sense bendingusing various kinds of sensors. The above-described methods of arrangingthe sensors and methods of sensing may be applied to the flexibledisplay apparatus 100 individually or may be applied in combination.

The sensor 120 may sense user's touch manipulation on the flexibledisplay 110 besides the bending.

Specifically, the sensor 120 may sense a touch manipulation usingcapacitive overlay, resistive overlay, infrared beam, surface acousticwave, integral strain gauge, and piezo electric.

The touch sensing method using capacitive overlay refers to a methodthat senses a location by sensing a change in capacitance when a usertouches a screen with his/her finger.

A pressing operation may cause upper and lower surfaces of the flexibledisplay 110 to contact each other and thus may cause a change inresistance values. At this time, a voltage may be changed due to acurrent flowing in opposite ends of the flexible display 110. The touchsensing method using resistive overlay refers to a method that senses atouch location using such a change in the voltage.

The touch sensing method using infrared beam refers to a method thatsenses a location using the principle that, when a user touches a screenof an Optp-matrix frame-mounted monitor with an article capable ofblocking light such as a finger, light emitted from an infrared rayemitting diode is blocked and thus is not detected by an opposite phototransistor.

The touch sensing method using surface acoustic wave refers to a methodthat is implemented in a simple principle using a characteristic thatultrasonic waves are propagated along a surface, and a propagationcharacteristic of sound that sound travels by a regular distance withina predetermined time, and senses a time interval of sound which isreflected and received through a transmitter and a reflector.

If a user presses one corner of the flexible display 110 with his/herhand, a tension measuring apparatus disposed at the pressed corner issubject to the greatest force from among the tension measuringapparatuses provided at the four corners of the flexible display 110,and the pressure is changed to an electric signal according the degreeof increased force, and the electric signal is transmitted to acontroller. The touch sensing method using an integral strain gaugerefers to a method that calculates coordinate values by calculating aratio of electric signals of the four corners of the flexible display110.

When a user touches the flexible display 110, four corners of theflexible display 110 are subject to different degrees of pressureaccording to a degree of pressure at the touch point and a touchlocation. The touch sensing method using piezo electric refers to amethod that senses a touch location by calculating a ratio of electricsignals of the four corners of the flexible display 110.

For instance, the sensor 120 may include a transparent conductive oxidefilm such as an indium-tin oxide (ITO) deposited on the substrate 111 ofthe flexible display 110, and a film formed on an upper portion of thetransparent conductive oxide film. Accordingly, if the user touches thescreen, upper and lower plates at the touched point are brought intocontact with each other and an electric signal is transmitted to thecontroller 130. The controller 130 recognizes the touched point usingcoordinates of an electrode to which the electric signal is transmitted.

If bending is sensed in a screen inactivation state, the controller 130may activate a bending region which is divided by a bending line BL,and, if bending is sensed in a screen activation state, the controller130 may inactivate a bending region which is divided by a bending lineBL. The detailed functions of the controller 130 have been describedabove and thus a detailed description thereof is omitted.

Examples of a Detailed Configuration of a Flexible Display ApparatusAccording to Exemplary Embodiments of the Present General InventiveConcept

FIG. 16 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of aflexible display apparatus 100 to explain operations according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

Referring to FIG. 16, a display apparatus 100 includes a flexibledisplay 110, a sensor 120, a controller 130, a storage device 140, acommunication unit 150, a voice recognition unit 160, a motionrecognition unit 170, a speaker 180, external input ports 190-1˜190-n,and a power supply 500.

The flexible display 110 has flexibility. The detailed configuration andoperation of the flexible display 110 has been described above and thusa redundant explanation is omitted.

The storage device 140 may store various programs or data associatedwith the operation of the flexible display 110, setting information setby the user, system driving operating software, and variousapplications.

Also, the storage device 140 may store information on theabove-described plurality of functions and information on priority givento the plurality of functions.

Also, the storage device 140 may store information on at least onefunction matching each region of the flexible display 110. Also, thestorage device 140 may store information on priority given to eachfunction.

The sensor 120 senses user manipulation performed on the flexibledisplay apparatus 100 including the flexible display 110, in particular,bending manipulation or touch manipulation. Referring to FIG. 17, thesensor 120 may include various kinds of sensors such as a touch sensor121, a geomagnetic sensor 122, an acceleration sensor 123, a bend sensor124, a pressure sensor 125, a proximity sensor 126, and a grip sensor127.

The touch sensor 121 may be implemented by using a capacitive type or aresistive type of sensor. The capacitive type calculates touchcoordinates by sensing minute electricity excited in a user's body whena part of the user's body touches the surface of the flexible display110, using a dielectric substance coated on the surface of the flexibledisplay 110. The resistive type includes two electrode plates embeddedin a remote control apparatus (not shown), and, if a user touches ascreen, calculates touch coordinates by sensing an electric currentflowing due to contact between upper and lower plates at the touchedpoint. Besides these, infrared beam, surface acoustic wave, integralstrain gauge, or piezo electric sensors may be used to sense touchmanipulation.

The touch sensor 121 may be implemented in various forms as describedabove.

The geomagnetic sensor 122 is to sense a rotation state and a movingdirection of the flexible display apparatus 100. The acceleration sensor123 is to sense a degree of tilt of the flexible display apparatus 100.The geomagnetic sensor 122 and the acceleration sensor 123 may be usedto sense bending characteristics such as a bending direction or abending area of the flexible display apparatus 100 as described above.However, the geomagnetic sensor 122 and the acceleration sensor 123 maybe used to sense a rotation state or a tilt state of the flexibledisplay apparatus 100.

The bend sensor 124 may be embodied in various shapes and numbers asdescribed above, and may sense a bent state of the flexible displayapparatus 100. The configuration and operation of the bend sensor 124has been described above and thus a redundant explanation is omitted.

The pressure sensor 125 senses a magnitude of pressure exerted to theflexible display apparatus 100 when the user performs touch or bendingmanipulation, and provides the magnitude of pressure to the controller130. The pressure sensor 125 may include a piezo film which is embeddedin the flexible display 110 and outputs an electric signal correspondingto the magnitude of pressure. Although the pressure sensor 125 is aseparate element from the touch sensor 121 in FIG. 17, if the touchsensor 121 is implemented by using a resistive touch sensor, theresistive touch sensor may also perform the function of the pressuresensor 125.

The proximity sensor 126 is to sense a motion which approaches withoutdirectly contacting the display surface. The proximity sensor 126 may beimplemented by using various types of sensors such as a high-frequencyoscillation type proximity sensor which forms a high frequency magneticfield and detects an electric current induced by a magneticcharacteristic which is changed when an object approaches, a magnetictype proximity sensor which uses a magnet, and a capacitive typeproximity sensor which detects capacitance which changes when an objectapproaches.

The grip sensor 127 is disposed on a border or a handle of the flexibledisplay apparatus 100 separately from the pressure sensor 125, andsenses a user's grip. The grip sensor 127 may be implemented by using apressure sensor or a touch sensor.

The controller 130 analyzes various sensing signals sensed by the sensor120, and, if it is determined that bending manipulation is performed,determines a screen activation region and a screen inactivation regionwith reference to a bending line BL, and displays a corresponding screenon the screen inactivation region.

For example, the controller 130 processes data which is obtained bycommunicating with an external apparatus, or data which is stored in thestorage device 140, and outputs the data through the screen activationregion of the flexible display 110 and the speaker 180. In this case,the controller 130 may communicate with the external apparatus using thecommunication unit 150.

The communication unit 150 may communicate with various types ofexternal apparatuses according to various communication methods. Thecommunication unit 150 may include various communication modules such asa broadcast receiving module 151, a near field communication (NFC)module 152, a GPS module 153, and a wireless communication module 154.The broadcast receiving module 151 may include a terrestrial broadcastreceiving module (not shown) including an antenna to receive aterrestrial broadcast signal, a demodulator, and an equalizer, and adigital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) module to receive and process aDMB broadcast signal. The NFC module 152 is a module that communicateswith an external apparatus located at a near distance according to anNFC method such as NFC, Bluetooth, or Zigbee. The GPS module 153 is amodule that receives a GPS signal from a GPS satellite and detects acurrent location of the display apparatus 100. The wirelesscommunication module 154 is a module that is connected to an externalnetwork according to a wireless communication protocol such as WiFi orIEEE and communicates with the external network. The NFC module 152 mayfurther include a mobile communication module that accesses a mobilecommunication network and performs communication according to variousmobile communication standards such as 3^(rd) generation (3G), 3^(rd)generation partnership project (3GPP), and long term evolution LTE).

The controller 130 may control the communication unit 150 to receive acontent from an external apparatus or transmit a content to an externalapparatus according to a function performed on the screen activationregion.

The controller 130 may recognize voice input or motion input besides thebending manipulation or touch manipulation, and may perform an operationcorresponding to the input. In this case, the controller 130 mayactivate the voice recognition unit 160 or the motion recognition unit170.

The voice recognition unit 160 collects a user's voice or an externalsound using a voice obtaining means such as a microphone (not shown),and transmits the user's voice or the external sound to the controller130. If the user's voice is consistent with a pre-set voice command in avoice control mode, the controller 130 may perform a task correspondingto the user's voice.

The motion recognition unit 170 obtains a user's image using an imagepickup device (not shown) such as a camera, and provides the user'simage to the controller 130. If the controller 130 analyzes the user'simage and determines that the user makes a motion gesture correspondingto a pre-set motion command in a motion control mode, the controller 130performs an operation corresponding to the motion gesture.

For example, various tasks such as changing a channel, turning anapparatus or off, pausing, reproducing, stopping, rewinding, fastforwarding, and mute may be controlled according to a voice or a motiongesture. However, this should not be considered as limiting.

The external input ports 190-1 through 190-n may be connected to varioustypes of external apparatuses and may receive various data or programsor control commands. Specifically, the external input ports may includeUSB ports, headset ports, mouse ports, and LAN ports. The power supply500 supplies power to the elements of the flexible display apparatus100. The power supply 500 may be implemented by including an anodecollector, an anode electrode, an electrolyte, a cathode electrode, acathode collector, and a sheath enclosing the aforementioned members.The power supply 500 may be implemented by using a secondary cell whichis chargeable and dischargeable. The power supply 500 may be implementedin a flexible form so that it can be bent along with the flexibledisplay apparatus 100. In this case, the collector, the electrode, theelectrolyte, and the sheath may be made of a flexible material. Detailedconfiguration and material of the power supply 500 will be explainedseparately below.

Although FIG. 16 illustrates various elements which may be included inthe flexible display apparatus 100, the flexible display apparatus 100may not necessarily include all of the elements and may not include onlythe above elements. Therefore, some of the elements may be omitted oradded according to a product type of the flexible display apparatus 100,or may be replaced with other elements.

The controller 130 may control the elements according to usermanipulation which is recognized through the sensor 120, the voicerecognition unit 160, and the motion recognition unit 170 describedabove, and may perform various operations.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating the controller 130 of FIG. 16 in detail.

Referring to FIG. 17, the controller 130 may include a system memory131, a main CPU 132, an image processor 133, a network interface 134, astorage interface 135, first to nth interfaces 136-1 to 136-n, an audioprocessor 137, and a system bus 138.

The system memory 131, the main CPU 132, the image processor 133, thenetwork interface 134, the storage interface 135, the first to nthinterfaces 136-1 to 136-n, and the audio processor 137 may be connectedto one another through the system bus 138, and may exchange various dataor signals with one another.

The first to nth interfaces 136-1 to 136-n support interfacing betweenthe elements including the sensor 120 and the elements of the controller130. In FIG. 17, the sensor 120 is connected to only the first interface136-1. However, if the sensor 120 includes various types of sensors asshown in FIG. 16, each of the sensors may be connected through one ofthe interfaces. For example, the touch sensor 121 may be connectedthrough the first interface 136-1 while the geomagnetic sensor 122 maybe connected through the second interface 136-2, and so on. Also, atleast one of the first to nth interfaces 136-1 to 136-n may beimplemented by using a button (not shown) which is provided on a body ofthe flexible display apparatus 100, or an input interface (not shown)which receives various signals from an external apparatus which isconnected through external input ports 1 to n.

The system memory 131 includes a read only memory (ROM) 131-1 and arandom access memory (RAM) 131-2. The ROM 131-1 stores a set of commandsfor system booting. If a turn on command is input and power is suppliedto the flexible display apparatus 100, the main CPU 132 copies an OSwhich is stored in the storage device 140 into the RAM 131-2 accordingto a command stored in the ROM 131-1, executes the OS, and boots thesystem. If booting is completed, the main CPU 132 copies variousapplications stored in the storage device 140 into the RAM 131-2,executes the applications copied into the RAM 131-2, and performsvarious operations.

As described above, the main CPU 132 may perform various operationsaccording to the application stored in the storage device 140.

The storage interface 135 is connected to the storage device 140 andexchanges various programs, content, and data with the storage device140.

For example, if a screen activation region is determined according tobending manipulation of the user, the main CPU 132 may access thestorage device 140 through the storage interface 135, identifyinformation stored in the storage device 140, and execute a functioncorresponding to the screen activation region, for example, a movingimage reproducing function. In this state, if the user selects onecontent, the main CPU 132 executes a moving image reproducing programstored in the storage device 140. The main CPU 132 controls the imageprocessor 133 to form a moving image reproducing screen according to acommand included in the moving image reproducing program.

The image processor 133 may include a decoder, a renderer, and a scaler(not shown). Accordingly, the image processor 133 decodes a storedcontent, renders the decoded content data and forms a frame, and scalesa size of the frame according to a screen size of the flexible display110. The image processor 133 provides the processed frame to theflexible display 110 and displays the same.

The audio processor 137 refers to an element that processes audio dataand provides the audio data to a sound outputting means such as aspeaker 180. The audio processor 137 performs audio signal processing bydecoding audio data which is stored in the storage device 140 or audiodata which is received through the communication unit 150, filteringnoise, and amplifying the audio data to an appropriate decibel level. Inthe above example, if the content to be reproduced is a moving imagecontent, the audio processor 137 may process the audio data which isde-multiplexed from the moving image content, and may provide the audiodata to the speaker 180 so that the audio data is synchronized with theimage processor 133 and is output.

The network interface 134 is connected to external apparatuses through anetwork. For example, if a web browser program is executed, the main CPU132 accesses a web server through the network interface 134. If web pagedata is received from the web server, the main CPU 132 controls theimage processor 133 to form a web page screen, and displays the web pagescreen on the flexible display 110.

As described above, if bending manipulation is sensed in the flexibledisplay apparatus 100, the controller 130 detects a bending line BLaccording to the sensed bending manipulation, determines a screenactivation region and a screen inactivation region with reference to thebending line BL, and performs an operation corresponding to each region.The above-described operation of the controller 130 may be implementedby executing various programs stored in the storage device 140.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a hierarchy of the storage device 140.Referring to FIG. 18, the storage device 140 may store softwareincluding a base module 141, a sensing module 142, a communicationmodule 143, a presentation module 144, a web browser module 145, abending event handling module 146, an event management module 147, and aservice module 148.

The base module 141 refers to a base module that processes signalstransmitted from the flexible display apparatus 100, and transmits thesignals to an upper layer module (not shown).

The base module 141 includes a storage module 141-1, a location-basedmodule 141-2, a security module 141-3, and a network module 141-4.

The storage module 141-1 is a program module that manages a database(DB) or a registry. The main CPU 132 may access the database in thestorage device 140 using the storage module 141-1 and may read outvarious data. The location-based module 141-2 is a program module thatis interlocked with hardware such as a GPS chip and supports alocation-based service. The security module 141-3 is a program modulethat supports certification for hardware, permission of a request, and asecure storage, and the network module 141-4 includes a Distributed.net(DNET) module and a Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) module as a module tosupport network connection.

The sensing module 142 is a module that collects information fromvarious sensors included in the sensor 110, analyzes and manages thecollected information. Specifically, the sensing module 142 is a programmodule that detects manipulation attributes such as coordinate values ofa touch point, a touch moving direction, a moving speed, and a movingdistance. The sensing module 142 may include a face recognition module,a voice recognition module, a motion recognition module, an NFCrecognition module, a rotation recognition module, a touch recognitionmodule, and a gesture recognition module.

The communication module 143 is a module to communicate with an externalapparatus. The communication module 143 includes a messaging module143-1 such as an instant messenger program, a short message service(SMS) and multimedia message service (MMS) program, and an emailprogram, and a telephony module 143-2 which includes a call informationaggregator program module and a voice over internet protocol (VoIP)module.

The presentation module 144 is a module that generates a display screen.The presentation module 144 includes a multimedia module 144-1 toreproduce multimedia content and output the multimedia content, and auser interface (UI) rendering module 144-2 to process a UI and graphics.The multimedia module 144-1 may include a player module, a camcordermodule, and a sound processing module. Accordingly, the multimediamodule 144 generates a screen and a sound by reproducing variousmultimedia contents, and reproduces the same. The UI rendering module144-2 may include an image compositor module to combine images, acoordinate combination module to combine coordinates on a screen todisplay an image and generate coordinates, an X11 module to receivevarious events from hardware, and a 2D/3D UI toolkit to provide a toolto configure a UI of a 2D or 3D format.

The web browser module 145 is a module that performs web-browsing andaccesses a web server. The web browser module 145 may include a web viewmodule to render and view a web page, a download agent module todownload, a bookmark module, and a web-kit module.

The bending event handling module 146 is a module that, if a bendinggesture (corresponding to a bending of the flexible display 110) ismade, controls an operation according to the bending gesture. Thebending event handling module 146 includes an event handler module146-1, a bending core module 146-2, and a plug-in module 146-3. Theevent handler module 146-1 receives various events from a flexiblewindow management module 147-2 of the event management module 147, andclassifies the events according to priority. The event recited herein isan event in which a bending gesture is sensed. The bending core module146-2 queues the events classified by the event handler module 146-1 andmatches the event with a corresponding program (application or widget).Also, the bending core module 146-2 transmits a rendering event signalto the presentation module 144 through the plug-in module 146-3 torender a screen matching the event. The plug-in module 146-3 isconnected to the presentation module 144 or a flexible UI frame workmodule (not shown) and loads data.

The event management module 147 is a module that manages a touch orbending gesture, or other various events. The event management module147 includes a window management module 147-1 and the flexible windowmanagement module 147-2. The window management module 147-1 may sense atouch event sensed by the touch sensor or may sense an input event inputthrough other inputting means. The window management module 147-1transmits the sensed event to the presentation module 144 or theflexible UI frame work module (not shown) such that an operationcorresponding to the event is performed. If a bending gesture is sensedby the sensor 120, the flexible window management module 147-2 transmitsthe bending event to the bending event handling module 146.

The service module 148 is an application module that provides variousservices. The service module 148 may include a program module ofproviding various services such as a navigation program module, a gamemodule, an e-book module, a calendar module, and a notice managementmodule.

The main CPU 132 displays a main screen if the flexible displayapparatus 100 is turned on or if a lock state is released. The mainscreen displays various icons. The main CPU 132 executes the UIrendering module 144-2 and provides various base data to adjust adisplay state of a bending interaction guide to the image processor 133.The base data may be shape, location, size, color and display time ofthe bending interaction guide. As described above, the image processor133 generates the bending interaction guide, adds the bendinginteraction guide to an object of the flexible display 110, and displaysthe bending interaction guide.

Some of the various program modules illustrated in FIG. 18 may beomitted, changed or added according to a type or characteristic of theflexible display apparatus 100.

In the above exemplary embodiments of the present general inventiveconcept, the flexible display apparatus 100 has a flat shape. However,the flexible display apparatus 100 may be embodied in various shapes.For example, the flexible display apparatus 100 may be embedded in abody that is formed of an inflexible material.

FIG. 19 is a view illustrating a display method of a flexible displayapparatus 100 according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

According to the display method of the flexible display apparatus 100shown in FIG. 19, bending of the flexible display 110 included in theflexible display apparatus 100 is sensed (operation S1910).

Based on the sensed bending, a screen activation region and a screeninactivation region are determined from among display regions of theflexible display (operation S1920). Specifically, a bending line BLwhich is formed by the sensed bending is detected. The bending line BLis defined by a line that connects points at which the greatest degreeof bending is performed in a bent area. For example, a line connectingbending points at which the greatest resistance value is output from abend sensor (also called “bending coordinates”) is defined as a bendingline BL.

A region that is formed by the detected bending line BL and at least twoof the four sides of the flexible display 110 may be determined as ascreen activation region, and the remainder of the flexible display 110may be determined as a screen inactivation region. For example, a regionthat is formed by two points at which a bending line BL meets first andsecond sides of the flexible display 110 which are adjacent to eachother, and a vertex at which the first and second sides meet each othermay be determined as a screen activation region, and the remainder ofthe flexible display 110 may be determined as a screen inactivationregion. For another example, a region that is formed by two points atwhich a bending line BL meets two sides of the flexible display 110which are opposite each other, and two vertexes at which the two sidesmeet a third side connecting the first two sides may be determined as ascreen activation region, and the remainder of the flexible display 110may be determined as a screen inactivation region.

Next, a screen is displayed on the screen activation region (operationS1930). Also, the screen inactivation region may be turned off.

If bending is performed in a state in which an original screen isdisplayed on the entire flexible display 110 in operation S1930 theoriginal screen may be reconfigured according to a size and a shape ofthe determined screen activation region, and may be displayed on thescreen activation region. Alternatively, a part of the original screendisplayed on the entire flexible display 110 that corresponds to thesize and the shape of the screen activation region may be displayed onthe screen activation region. An example of this situation isillustrated in FIG. 33, discussed later.

Also, if the screen activation region is determined, a number ofexecutable functions may be determined with reference to the size andthe shape of the determined screen activation region, and the determinednumber of functions may be executed from among the plurality offunctions according to a priority given to the plurality of functions inoperation S1930. Also, a screen including an object corresponding toeach of the executed functions may be generated and may be displayed onthe screen activation region. In this case, the priority of functionsmay be determined differently according to a location of the screenactivation region. An example of this situation is illustrated in FIG.23, discussed later.

Also, if the screen activation region is determined, a function thatmatches the location of the screen activation region may be identifiedbased on information on at least one function matching each region ofthe flexible display 110 and stored in operation S1930. Next, theidentified function may be executed and a screen may be generated, andthe generated screen may be displayed on the screen activation region.

If a region matching a plurality of functions is included in the screenactivation region, the number of functions to be executed may bedetermined according to the size and the shape of the screen activationregion, and the determined number of functions may be executed fromamong the plurality of functions in sequence according to the prioritygiven to the plurality of functions in operation S1930. Next, a screenincluding an object corresponding to each of the executed functions maybe generated and the generated screen may be displayed on the screenactivation region. An example of this situation is illustrated in FIG.23, discussed later.

In operation S1930, in a state in which one application is executed andan execution screen of the application is displayed on the entire regionof the flexible display 110, if a notice message regarding a secondapplication is received, the notice message may be displayed on oneregion of the execution screen. Examples of this situation areillustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27, discussed later.

Also, if the region on which the notice message is displayed is bent,the execution screen of the application is displayed on the remainder ofthe flexible display 110, and a whole text of the notice message may bedisplayed on the bent region. This situation is illustrated for examplein FIG. 26, discussed later.

Also, if flap manipulation to unfold the bent region is sensed in thestate in which the whole text of the notice message is displayed on thebent region, the second application may be executed and an executionscreen of the second application may be displayed on the entire flexibledisplay 110. This situation is illustrated for example in FIG. 27,discussed later.

Also, if the flexible display apparatus 100 is re-bent in the state inwhich the execution screen of the second application is displayed on theentire flexible display 110, a sub-function that corresponds to there-bent region from among sub-functions executable by the secondapplication may be executed. This situation is illustrated for examplein FIG. 27, discussed later.

If the flexible display apparatus 100 is re-bent in a direction oppositeto the bending direction of the region on which the notice message isdisplayed, the notice message may be deleted and the execution screen ofthe application may be displayed on the entire flexible display 110again. This situation is illustrated for example in FIG. 26, discussedlater.

If the bent region returns to a flat state, the flexible displayapparatus 100 may enter a standby state. This situation is illustratedfor example in FIG. 28, discussed later.

Also, if the flexible display 110 returns to the flat state after havingbeen bent from one end to such an extent that one end contacts the otherend, the screen activation region may be extended to the entire regionof the flexible display 110.

Display Methods According to Exemplary Embodiments of the PresentGeneral Inventive Concept

FIGS. 20A-D are views illustrating a method of determining a screenactivation region according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

As shown in FIG. 20A, if folding and hold manipulation is performed on abent region of the flexible display 110, a region A that is formed by abending line BL and two sides adjacent to the bending line BL may bedetermined as a screen activation region, and the other region may bedetermined as a screen inactivation region. The method of determiningthe screen activation region will be explained separately according to acase in which the flexible display 110 has a one-sided display and acase in which the flexible display 110 is a double-sided display.

If the flexible display 110 is a one-sided display, a surface includingthe screen activation region A is a front surface of the flexibledisplay 110 that displays a screen, and the opposite surface of theflexible display 110 corresponds to a rear display surface. In thiscase, the front except for the region A may be the screen inactivationregion.

If the flexible display 110 is a double-sided display, the screenactivation region A may be a rear surface of the flexible display 110and a rear surface region that is not shown is also the screeninactivation region. Additionally, the entire region of the frontsurface of the flexible display 110, that is, the region illustrated inFIG. 20A and the region that is overlapped with the region A and thus isnot shown, may be the screen inactivation region.

If folding and flap manipulation (in which a portion of the flexibledisplay 110 is folded over and then folded back to its originalposition) is performed on the bent region of the flexible display 110 asshown in FIG. 20B, a region B that is formed by the bending line BL andthe two sides adjacent to the bending line BL may be a screen activationregion. In this case, the remainder of the flexible display 110 exceptfor the region B may be a screen inactivation region.

If folding and flap manipulation is performed on the bent region of theflexible display 110 as shown in FIG. 20C, only a region C that has notexperienced location movement from among regions that have contactedeach other by folding may be a screen activation region, and theremainder of the flexible display 110 may be a screen inactivationregion.

As shown in FIG. 20D, if folding and flap manipulation is performed onthe bent region of the flexible display 110, a region D corresponding tothe portions of the flexible display 110 that have been folded over andcontacted each other may be a screen activation region, and theremainder of the flexible display 110 may be a screen inactivationregion.

FIGS. 21A-B are views illustrating a method of recognizing a screenactivation region according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentgeneral inventive concept.

As shown in FIGS. 21A and B, a bending area corresponding to a regionthat is significantly bent with reference to a bending line BL may beactivated. In this case, a degree of bending for each location may begrasped based on sensing information of bend sensors (illustrated inFIGS. 3-13) disposed on the entire region of the flexible display 110,an edge region, and a center region. The bending line BL recited hereinmay be a virtual line that connects parts are the flexible displayapparatus 100 that are most bent.

If bending is performed as shown in FIG. 21A, a region that issignificantly bent with reference to a bending line BL may be recognizedas a screen activation region.

Also, if bending is performed as shown in FIG. 21B, a region that issignificantly bent with reference to a bending line BL may be recognizedas a screen activation region. Besides the bend sensor described above,a pressure sensor or a touch sensor may be used to recognize a screenactivation region, and an acceleration sensor (illustrated in FIG. 15)or a gyro sensor may be disposed on a specific region (for example, acorner) of the flexible display apparatus 100 to recognize a screenactivation region.

FIGS. 22A-B are views illustrating a method for displaying a screen on ascreen activation region according to a bending manipulation methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

If folding and hold is performed on a certain region in a state in whichthe flexible display 110 is inactivated as shown in FIG. 22A, a screenmay be displayed on a region A that is determined as an activationregion by the folding and hold manipulation. The displayed screen maycorrespond to a function allocated to the region A. For example, if aclock function is allocated to the region A, an application executionscreen corresponding to the function may be displayed.

If folding and flap is performed on a certain region in the state inwhich the flexible display 110 is inactivated as shown in FIG. 22B, ascreen may be displayed on a region B that is determined as a screenactivation region by the folding and flap manipulation. In this case, ascreen corresponding to a function allocated to the region B may bedisplayed. For example, if a weather information providing function isallocated to the region B, an application execution screen correspondingthe function may be displayed. That is, even if the region A of FIG. 22Ais the same as the region B of FIG. 22B (that is, even if the region Aof FIG. 22A is the one-sided display as shown in FIG. 20A, a differentfunction may be executed according to a bending manipulation method.That is, a different function may be executed according to whetherfolding and hold is performed or folding and flap is performed, and acorresponding different screen may be displayed.

FIGS. 23A-E are views illustrating a method of displaying according to ashape of a screen activation region according to an exemplary embodimentof the present general inventive concept.

As shown in FIGS. 23A and B, the same elements constituting a screen maybe rearranged according to a shape of a screen activation region and maybe displayed. That is, if a screen activation region 231 has arectangular shape as shown in FIG. 23A, application icons may bedisplayed to be suitable for the corresponding region. If a screenactivation region 232 has a triangular shape as shown in FIG. 23B,application icons may be rearranged to be suitable for the correspondingregion and may be displayed.

The screen activation regions 233, 234, and 235 may have various shapesaccording to bending shapes as shown in views FIGS. 23C, D, and E, andcorresponding application icons may be rearranged and displayedaccording to a size and a shape of the screen activation region.

FIGS. 24A-E and 25A-H are views illustrating a method of displayingaccording to a size and a location of a screen activation regionaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIGS. 24A-E and 25A-H, it is assumed thata screen activation region is determined by folding and flap performedon a certain region in a state in which the flexible display 110 isinactivated.

As shown in FIGS. 24A-E and 25A-H, a kind of a function to be executed,a number of functions, and a shape of an execution screen may varyaccording to size, shape, and location of a screen activation region.

If a screen activation region 241 is determined by folding and flap asshown FIG. 24A, a clock function pre-set for the screen activationregion 241 is executed and a screen corresponding to the clock functionis displayed. The screen corresponding to the function may be a screenon which an application icon is displayed or an execution screen of thecorresponding application. For the convenience of explanation, acorresponding application icon 241-1 is displayed.

Specifically, if a size of a screen activation region 242 shown in FIG.24B is larger than that of the screen activation region 241 of FIG. 24A,the number of executable functions increases. For example, a messageapplication icon 242-2 and a telephone application icon 243-1 may bedisplayed besides the clock application icon 242-1.

In this case, the executed functions may be determined according topre-stored priority. For example, it is determined that three functionsare executable on the screen activation region 242, the three functionsthat are determined from among the plurality of functions according topriority are executed and a screen including objects corresponding tothe functions may be displayed. The priority may be determineddifferently according to a location of the screen activation region.

According to another exemplary embodiment of the present generalinventive concept, if a screen activation region 243 is determined as inFIG. 24C, a number of executable functions are determined for thedetermined screen activation region 243 according to priority.

Specifically, if an execution screen for a function that is given secondpriority is so large that it is impossible to display an executionscreen for a function given next priority as shown in FIG. 24C, only thetwo functions which are given first and second priorities are executedon the screen activation region 243.

Also, if a location of a screen activation region 244 shown in FIG. 24Dis different from that of the screen activation region 241 of FIG. 24A,a function different from the function executed in FIG. 24A may beperformed. For example, a pre-set mp3 function may be executed on thescreen activation region 244 and an mp3 application icon 244-1 may bedisplayed.

If a size of a screen activation region formed by a bending line BL isnot appropriate to display a screen corresponding to a correspondingfunction as shown in FIG. 24E, for example, if the size of the screenactivation region formed by the bending line BL is smaller than apredetermined size, the screen activation region may be extended to suchan extent that a corresponding screen can be displayed. That is, ascreen activation region 245 exceeding the bending line BL may bedetermined.

Also, a shape of an execution screen corresponding to the same functionmay vary according to a size of a screen activation region as shown inFIGS. 25A and B.

If a size of a screen activation region 251 is smaller than apredetermined size as shown in FIG. 25A, an application icon of acorresponding function may be displayed. For example, a message icon251-1 may be displayed as show in FIG. 25A, and an execution screen forthe message icon 251-1 may be displayed by selecting the message icon251-1 or enlarging the size of the screen activation region 251.

If a size of a screen activation region 252 is greater than thepredetermined size as shown in FIG. 25B, an application execution screen252-1 of a corresponding function may be displayed. For example, anexecution screen of a message application may be displayed as shown inFIG. 25B.

A screen that is more detailed than the execution screen may bedisplayed by enlarging the size of the screen activation region 252. Forexample, message senders are displayed to such an extent that they canonly be identified in FIG. 25B. However, a message text may be displayedby enlarging the size of the screen activation region 252. A detailedoperation of enlarging the size of the screen activation region 252 willbe explained below with reference to the drawings.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 25C and D, a size of information provided on anexecution screen corresponding to the same function may vary accordingto a size of a screen activation region. For example, if timeinformation is provided on a screen activation region 253, 253-1, a sizeof the time information may vary according to a size of the screenactivation region 253, 253-1.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 25E and F, a shape of information provided on anexecution screen corresponding to the same function may vary accordingto a size of a screen activation region. For example, if screenactivation regions 254 and 255 provide the same time information, thetime information may be provided in a form of a text on the screenactivation region 254 of FIG. 25E, and the time information may beprovided in a form of a clock image on the screen activation region 255of FIG. 25F.

Also, as shown in FIGS. 25G and H, an amount of information provided ona screen activation region may vary according to a size of the screenactivation region. If a plurality of pieces of information are providedaccording to a size of a screen activation region, the plurality ofpieces of information may be information on the same function or may beinformation on different functions.

For example, time information may be provided on a screen activationregion 256 shown in FIG. 25G, and time information and weatherinformation may be provided on a screen activation region 257 shown inFIG. 25H.

In the above exemplary embodiments of the present general inventiveconcept, a certain region is activated by bending the flexible display110 while it is in the inactivation state. However, this is merely anexample. In the state in which the entire screen is activated, a certainregion may be maintained in the activation state by bending, and theremainder of the screen may be inactivated.

FIGS. 26 and 27 are flowcharts illustrating a display method accordingto an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27, it isassumed that, in a state in which a screen is already activated in oneform, a bent region is activated in the other form.

According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 26, in a statein which an execution screen 261 of a specific first application isdisplayed on the flexible display 110, if a notice message regarding asecond application is received, the notice message 262 may be displayedon one region of the execution screen. For example, in a state in whicha moving image reproducing screen 261 is displayed by executing a movingimage application, if a notice message regarding a message applicationis received, the notice message 262 informing that a message is receivedis displayed on one region of the execution screen.

If fold and flap manipulation is performed on the region on which thenotice message 262 is displayed, the execution screen of the firstapplication is maintained on region 263 separate from a region 264 onwhich fold and flap manipulation is sensed, and a whole text of thenotice message may be displayed on the region 264 on which bending andflap manipulation is sensed. For example, a whole text 264 of thereceived message may be displayed.

If bending and flap manipulation is performed in the opposite directionon the region 264 on which bending and flap manipulation has beensensed, the whole text 264 of the message that has been displayed on theregion 264 may disappear and the execution screen of the previousapplication, that is, the moving image reproducing screen 261 may bedisplayed on the entire flexible display 110 again.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a display method according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

According to an exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 27, in a statein which an execution screen 271 of a specific first application isdisplayed on the entire flexible display 110, if a notice messageregarding a second application is received, the notice message 272 maybe displayed on one region of the execution screen.

Next, if the region on which the notice message 272 is displayed isbent, the execution screen of the first application is displayed on theregion 274 outside of the bent region 273 and a whole text of the noticemessage may be displayed on the bent region 273.

If flap manipulation to unfold the bent region is sensed in the state inwhich the whole text of the notice message is displayed on the bentregion 273, the second application may be executed and an executionscreen 275 of the second application may be displayed on the entireflexible display 110.

Also, if a certain region 276 is bent in the state in which theexecution screen of the second application is displayed on the entireflexible display 110, the execution screen of the second application maybe displayed on the bent region 276 and a sub-function for the executionscreen of the second application may be executed on the other region277. For example, if the execution screen of the second application is amessage application execution screen, a keyboard function to input amessage may be displayed on the other region 277.

If flap manipulation is sensed on the bent region 276 on which theexecution screen of the second application is displayed, the executionscreen 275 of the second application may be displayed on the entirescreen again. For example, if a message is input through the keyboardscreen 277, a screen reflecting a newly input message 278 may bedisplayed.

FIG. 28 is a flow chart illustrating a display method according to stillan exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

If a certain region 281 of the flexible display 110 is bent by more thana predetermined radius of curvature while the flexible display 110 is ina standby state (screen off) as shown in FIG. 28, an execution screenfor a function corresponding to the region 281 may be displayed and theother region 282 may remain in the standby state. For example, a summaryscreen corresponding to a music player function may be displayed on theregion 281.

If flap manipulation to make the bent region 281 completely flat issensed, the entire flexible display 110 goes back to the standby state.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a display method according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

If bending of a certain region 291 of the flexible display 110 is sensedin a state in which the flexible display 110 is in a standby (screenoff) state as shown in FIG. 29, the bent region 291 is activated and anexecution screen for a function corresponding to the bent region 291 isdisplayed, and the other region 292 remains in the standby state.

If re-bending of resulting in a new bent region 293 is sensed, thescreen activation region may be extended or reduced according to the newbent region 293, and a screen corresponding to the extended or reducedscreen activation region may be displayed. Specifically, if the screenactivation region 293 determined by the bending line BL formed by there-bending manipulation is larger than the screen activation region 291determined by the bending line BL formed by the initial bendingmanipulation, much information or detailed information may be displayedon the extended screen activation region. For example, more informationmay be displayed on the extended screen activation region 293 than inthe initial screen activation region 291 as shown in FIG. 29.

If the flexible display apparatus 100 is released from the bending stateand returns to the flat state, the screen activation region 293 may beinactivated and thus the entire flexible display 110 may enter thestandby state.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a display method according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

If bending of a certain region 301 is sensed while the flexible display110 is in the standby state as shown in FIG. 30, the bent region 301 isactivated and an execution screen for a function corresponding to thebent region 301 is displayed, and the other region 302 remains in thestandby state.

If the bent region is extended to the entire region by usermanipulation, the entire screen may be activated and a correspondingscreen may be displayed. For example, if the user grips the bending lineBL and moves a location of the bending line BL continuously, the screenactivation region may be extended according to movement of the bendingline BL.

In this case, as the screen activation region is extended, a displaystate of the screen displayed on the screen activation region may bechanged. Specifically, if a summary screen of a music player isdisplayed on the screen activation region 301 according to initialbending manipulation, detailed information corresponding to the extendedscreen activation region 303 such as an entire screen of the musicplayer and information on a currently reproduced album may be displayedon the screen activation regions which are extended according to themovement of the bending line BL.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a method of adjusting a screenactivation region 311, 312 according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent general inventive concept.

As shown in FIG. 31, if bending of a certain region 311 is sensed in astate in which the flexible display 110 is in a standby state, a bentregion 311 from among a plurality of regions divided by a bending lineBL is activated as a screen activation region. After that, the screenactivation region 311 may be extended or reduced by touching anddragging the bending line BL. For example, if the user touches thebending line BL and drags to move the location of the bending line BL,the screen activation region may be extended to a region 312 to whichthe bending line BL is moved.

FIGS. 32A and B are flowcharts illustrating a method of displayingaccording to an adjusted screen activation region 321, 322, 323, and 324according to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

As shown in FIG. 32, if a certain region 321 of the flexible displayapparatus 100 is activated and the activation region 321 is extended bytouching and dragging, detailed information of existing displayinformation may be displayed on an extended screen activation region 322or the enlarged existing display information may be displayed

For example, if a message icon 321-1 including an update mark 321-2 isdisplayed on the existing screen activation region 321 as shown in FIG.32A, detailed contents 322-1 of three messages corresponding to theupdate mark 321-2 of the message icon 321-1 may be displayed on theextended screen activation region 322.

If weather information 323-1 is displayed on the existing screenactivation region 323 as shown in FIG. 32B, the existing displayinformation may be displayed in an extended form on the extended screenactivation region 324.

FIGS. 33 and 34 are flowcharts illustrating a screen inactivating methodaccording to an exemplary embodiment of the present general inventiveconcept.

If a certain region 332 or 342 is inactivated by bending as shown inFIGS. 33 and 34, respectively, such that region 332 or 342 becomes ascreen inactivation region, a content that has been displayed on thescreen inactivation region 332 or 342 or a content associated with thecontent that has been displayed on the screen inactivation region 332 or342 may be displayed on the screen activation region 333 and 343.

For example, it is assumed that a screen activation region 331corresponding to the entire flexible display 110 of the flexible displayapparatus 100 is activated and a music player screen 331-1 andinformation on a currently reproduced album 331-2 are displayed.

If bending of a certain region 332 of the flexible display 110 issensed, the music player screen 331-1 that has been displayed inside thebent region 332 is moved to the region 333 where bending is notperformed and some of the information 331-2 on the current producedalbum which has been originally displayed is moved in the other region.In this case, the inner screen corresponding to the bent region 332 thatis, the region that is not exposed due to bending may be inactivated.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present general inventive conceptillustrated in FIG. 34, it is assumed that a screen activation region341 corresponding to the entire flexible display 110 of the flexibledisplay apparatus 100 is activated and a moving image reproducing screenis displayed.

Next, if bending of a certain region 342 of the flexible display 110 issensed, the moving image reproducing screen that has been displayed on aregion 343 on which bending is not performed may disappear and a movingimage reproducing list screen may be displayed. However, according to asituation, the moving image list may be overlaid with the moving imagereproducing screen. Herein, the moving image reproducing list may beinformation on a content that has been displayed on the existing entirescreen or a content that has been displayed on the bent region 342. Inthis case, an inner screen corresponding to the bent region 342, thatis, a region that is not exposed by bending may be inactivated.

In this case, a display state of the screen that is displayed on thescreen activation region may be changed as the screen activation regionis extended. Similarly to the method illustrated in FIG. 30, if asummary screen of a music player is displayed on a screen activationregion 301 according to initial bending manipulation, detailedinformation corresponding to extended region 303 such as an entirescreen of the music player and information on a currently reproducedalbum may be displayed on the screen activation region 303 extended bymovement of a bending line BL.

FIG. 35 is a view illustrating a display method according to anexemplary embodiment of the present general inventive concept.

If a certain region 351 of the flexible display 110 is bent as shown inFIG. 35, a graphic effect showing that contents that have been displayedon the flexible display 110 are minimized and disappear toward alocation of the bent region 351 may be provided. For example, thecontents displayed on the flexible display 110 may be deleted and thrownaway by executing a recycle bin function or a previous content displayedon the flexible display 110 may disappear to be converted into anothercontent.

FIGS. 36A-B are views illustrating an example of a flexible displayapparatus 100 which is embedded in a body 3600.

Referring to FIG. 36A, the flexible display apparatus 100 includes abody 3600, a flexible display 110, and a grip unit 3610.

The body 3600 may serve as a kind of a case containing the flexibledisplay 110. If the flexible display apparatus 100 includes variouselements as shown in FIG. 36, elements other than the flexible display110 and some sensors may be mounted in the body 3600. The body 3600includes a rotary roller (not shown) to roll the flexible display 110.Accordingly, when not in use, the flexible display 110 is rolled aboutthe rotary roller and embedded in the body 3600.

If the user holds the grip unit 3610 and pulls it, the rotary roller ofbody 3600 is rotated in the opposite direction to that of the rollingand rolling is released, such that the flexible display 110 comes out tothe outside of the body 3600. A stopper (not shown) may be provided onthe rotary roller. Accordingly, if the user pulls the grip unit 3610 bymore than a predetermined distance, the rotation of the rotary roller isstopped by the stopper and the flexible display 110 may be fixed.Accordingly, the user can execute various functions using the flexibledisplay 110 exposed to the outside. If the user presses a button (notshown) to release the stopper, the stopper is released and the rotaryroller is rotated in a reverse direction. As a result, the flexibledisplay 110 is rolled in the body 5100. The stopper may have a switchshape to stop an operation of a gear (not shown) to rotate the rotaryroller. Since the rotary roller and the stopper may employ a generalrolling structure, detailed illustration and explanation thereof areomitted.

The body 3600 may include a power supply 180. The power supply 180 maybe implemented by using a battery connector (not shown) on which adisposable battery is mounted, a secondary cell (not shown) which can becharged and used multiple times by the user, and a solar cell (notshown) which generates electricity using solar heat. If the power supplyis implemented by using the secondary cell, the user may connect thebody 3600 to an external power source through a wire (not shown) and maycharge the power supply 180.

In FIG. 36A, the body 3600 has a cylindrical shape. However, the shapeof the body 3600 may be quadrangular or other polygonal shape. Also, theflexible display 110 may be implemented in various forms such asenclosing the body 3600, rather than being embedded in the body 3600 andbeing exposed to the outside by being pulled.

Also, as shown in FIG. 36B, the flexible display 110 may be configuredto be inserted into a body 3700.

FIG. 37 is a view illustrating a flexible display apparatus 100 in whicha power supply 180 is attachable and detachable. Referring to FIG. 37,the power supply 180 is provided on one edge of the flexible displayapparatus 100 and is attachable and detachable.

The power supply 180 may be made of a flexible material and may be bentalong with the flexible display 110. Specifically, the power supply 180includes a cathode collector (not shown), a cathode electrode (notshown), an electrolyte (not shown), an anode electrode (not shown), ananode collector (not shown), and a sheath covering the aforementionedmembers (not shown).

For example, the cathode collector and the anode collector may beimplemented by using an alloy such as TiNi having good elasticity, metalsuch as copper and aluminum, a conductive material such as metal coatedwith carbon, carbon, and a carbon fiber, or a conducting polymer such aspolypyrole.

The cathode electrode may be manufactured by a negative electrodematerial such as metal such as lithium, natrium, zinc, magnesium,cadmium, hydrogen storage alloy, and lead, nonmetal such as carbon, anda high molecular electrode material such as organosulfur.

The anode electrode may be manufactured by a positive electrode materialsuch as sulfur and metal sulfide, lithium transition metal oxide such asLiCoO2, and a high molecular electrode material such as SOCl2, MnO2,Ag2O, Cl2, NiCl2, and NiOOH. The electrolyte may be implemented in a gelform using PEO, PVdF, PMMA, and PVAC.

The sheath may use a general polymer resin. For example, PVC, HDPE, orepoxy may be used. Besides these, any material that can prevent damageof a thread-type cell and is freely flexible or bendable may be used forthe sheath.

Each of the anode electrode and the cathode electrode in the powersupply 180 may include a connector 181 to be electrically connected toan external source.

Referring to FIG. 37, the connector 181 protrudes from the power supply180 and a recess 182 corresponding to a location, a size, and a shape ofthe connector is formed on the flexible display 110. Accordingly, thepower supply 180 is connected with the flexible display 110 as theconnector 181 and the recess 182 are connected to each other. Theconnector 181 of the power supply 180 is connected to a power connectionpad (not shown) of the flexible display apparatus 100 to supply power tothe flexible display apparatus 100.

Although the power supply 180 is illustrated as attached to or detachedfrom one edge of the flexible display apparatus 100 in FIG. 37, this ismerely an example. A location and a shape of the power supply 180 may bechanged according to a product characteristic. For example, if theflexible display apparatus 100 has a predetermined thickness, the powersupply 180 may be mounted on a rear surface of the flexible displayapparatus 100.

FIG. 38 is a view illustrating a flexible display apparatus 200 of a3-dimensional structure rather than a flat panel structure. Referring toFIG. 38, a flexible display 210 is disposed on one side of the flexibledisplay apparatus 200, and various hardware such as a speaker, amicrophone, and an IR lamp (not shown) may be provided on another side.In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 38, a plurality ofbuttons 215 are illustrated.

A whole outer case 201 or a part 202 of the outer case 201 of theflexible display apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 38 is made of rubber orother polymer resins, and is flexibly bendable. Accordingly, the wholeflexible display apparatus 200 or a part of the flexible displayapparatus 200 may have flexibility.

If the flexible display apparatus 200 is bent, a new operation which isdifferent from a previous operation may be performed. For example, ifthe flexible display apparatus 200 usually performs a remote controlfunction to control an external apparatus, it may perform a telephonefunction when a bending gesture is performed on a certain region. Aremote control button (not shown) may be displayed on the flexibledisplay 110 when the remote control function is performed, and a dialpad 216 may be displayed on the flexible display 110 if the telephonefunction is performed.

FIGS. 39A-C illustrate a circular type flexible display apparatus 300having a flexible display 310. Accordingly, a visually or functionallydifferent operation may be performed according to an orientation of theflexible display apparatus 300 or a shape in which the flexible displayapparatus is bent. For instance, if the flexible display apparatus 300lies horizontally as illustrated in FIG. 39A, photos or other contentmay be displayed. If the flexible display apparatus 300 stands in anupright position as illustrated in FIG. 39B, a clock function may beperformed. If a center of the flexible display apparatus 300 is bent by90° as illustrated in FIG. 39C, a notebook PC function may be performed.In this case, a soft keyboard may be displayed one of the folded regionsand a display window may be displayed the other region.

Besides the exemplary embodiments described herein, the flexible displayapparatus 100 may be embodied in various forms.

The present general inventive concept can also be embodied ascomputer-readable codes on a computer-readable medium. Thecomputer-readable medium can include a computer-readable recordingmedium and a computer-readable transmission medium. Thecomputer-readable recording medium is any data storage device that canstore data as a program which can be thereafter read by a computersystem. Examples of the computer-readable recording medium include asemiconductor memory, a read-only memory (ROM), a random-access memory(RAM), a USB memory, a memory card, a Blu-Ray disc, CD-ROMs, magnetictapes, floppy disks, and optical data storage devices. Thecomputer-readable recording medium can also be distributed over networkcoupled computer systems so that the computer-readable code is storedand executed in a distributed fashion. The computer-readabletransmission medium can transmit carrier waves or signals (e.g., wiredor wireless data transmission through the Internet). Also, functionalprograms, codes, and code segments to accomplish the present generalinventive concept can be easily construed by programmers skilled in theart to which the present general inventive concept pertains.

For example, a non-transitory computer readable medium, which stores aprogram to perform determining a screen activation region and a screeninactivation region from among display regions of a flexible display 110based on sensed bending, and displaying a screen on the screenactivation region, may be provided.

Also, a non-transitory computer readable medium, which stores a programto perform various methods to determine a screen activation regionaccording to the above-described various exemplary embodiments of thepresent general inventive concept, may be provided.

Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept havebeen shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in theart that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing fromthe principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope ofwhich is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A flexible display apparatus comprising: aflexible display; a sensor to sense a bending of the flexible display;and a controller configured to: in response to a message being received,display a notice message related to receiving the message on theflexible display, and in response to a bending manipulation of theflexible display being detected while the notice message is displayed,display the received message on the flexible display.
 2. The flexibledisplay apparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller, in response to abending manipulation of the flexible display being detected again whilethe received message is displayed on the flexible display, makes thereceived message disappear.
 3. The flexible display apparatus of claim2, wherein a direction of the bending manipulation detected while thereceived message is displayed on the flexible display is opposite to adirection of the bending manipulation detected while the notice messageis displayed on the flexible display.
 4. The flexible display apparatusof claim 3, wherein the direction of the bending manipulation detectedwhile the received message is displayed on the flexible display is adirection that the notice message is displayed on the flexible display,and the direction of the bending manipulation detected while the noticemessage is displayed on the flexible display is opposite to a directionthat the received message is displayed.
 5. The flexible displayapparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller, while the received messageis displayed on one display area, in response to the bendingmanipulation of the flexible display being detected, displays a screenwhich is displayed on area other than the one display area on an entirearea of the flexible display.
 6. The flexible display apparatus of claim1, wherein an area where the bending manipulation being detected whilethe notice message is displayed is an area where the notice message isdisplayed on the flexible display.
 7. The flexible display apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein an area where the bending manipulation being detectedwhile the received message is displayed is an area where the receivedmessage is displayed on the flexible display.
 8. The flexible displayapparatus of claim 1, wherein the bending manipulation detected whilethe notice message is displayed comprises folding and flap manipulation.9. The flexible display apparatus of claim 2, wherein the bendingmanipulation detected while the received message is displayed comprisesfolding and flap manipulation.
 10. A display method of a flexibledisplay apparatus, the display method comprising: displaying a noticemessage related to receiving the message on the flexible display inresponse to the message being received; detecting a bending manipulationof a flexible display provided in the flexible display apparatus; anddisplaying the received message on the flexible display.
 11. The displaymethod of claim 10, further comprising: detecting a bending manipulationof the flexible display again while the received message is displayed onthe flexible display; and making the received message disappear.
 12. Thedisplay method of claim 11, wherein a direction of the bendingmanipulation detected while the received message is displayed on theflexible display is opposite to a direction of the bending manipulationdetected while the notice message is displayed on the flexible display.13. The display method of claim 12, wherein the direction of the bendingmanipulation detected while the received message is displayed on theflexible display is a direction that the notice message is displayed onthe flexible display, and the direction of the bending manipulationdetected while the notice message is displayed on the flexible displayis opposite to a direction that the received message is displayed. 14.The display method of claim 11, wherein the making comprises displayinga screen which is displayed on area other than an display area where thereceived message is displayed on an entire area of the flexible display.15. The display method of claim 10, wherein an area where the bendingmanipulation being detected while the notice message is displayed is anarea where the notice message is displayed on the flexible display. 16.The display method of claim 11, wherein an area where the bendingmanipulation being detected while the received message is displayed isan area where the received message is displayed on the flexible display.17. The display method of claim 10, wherein the bending manipulationdetected while the notice message is displayed comprises folding andflap manipulation.
 18. The display method of claim 11, wherein thebending manipulation detected while the received message is displayedcomprises folding and flap manipulation.